The World Athletics Championship is arguably the most important event of the year for the sport’s top athletes. Its prestige carries just as much weight as an Olympic Games to the stars of track and field, and a gold medal at this biennial competition means the world is yours to conquer.

For runners, this competition is a chance to strut their stuff in front of the sport’s biggest fans and show just how talented they are. The competition features a range of different events, from the middle and long distances — including the 800m and 1500m — to the 3,000m steeplechase and 10,000m, which test an athlete’s ability to hold a pace for several laps over several hours. Then there are the sprints, where athletes push themselves to be the fastest on the circuit and evade hurdles of all shapes and sizes.

The 2023 edition of the World Championships, which ran from August 19 to 27, brought some thrilling races and stunning performances to Budapest’s National Stadium and surrounding parklands. Some 404,088 spectators watched over the nine days at the most-attended World Championships in history.

Those in attendance witnessed plenty of magic moments, from a record-setting victory by American star Noah Lyles in the men’s 100 meters to an amazing British sweep in the relays. The final day kicked off with the women’s triple jump and men’s high jump finals, with Dominica’s Thea LaFond winning her first world title in the former and Hamish Kerr claiming gold in the latter.