The 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics is the sixth edition of the IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics. They were held at Brixen-Bressanone Sport Arena in Brixen, Italy from 8–12 July 2009. Athletes had to be aged 16 or 17 on 31 December 2009 (born in 1992 or 1993) to compete.
15-year-old Jodie Williams took the 100 m sprint title in a youth world leading time of 11.39. This was also a personal best for Williams, who had not lost a 100 m final since 2007. Also winning the girls' 200 m, Williams became the first youth athlete ever to do so. A similar feat was achieved by Kirani James of Grenada, who won the boys' 200 and 400 metres.
In winning the long jump, Supanara Sukhasvasti became Thailand’s first ever finalist, medallist and champion in an athletics global event of any age category. He is a descendent of King Rama IV. With the 100 m hurdles, 17-year-old Isabelle Pedersen became Norway’s first ever World Youth champion. Her time of 13.20 in the semi finals was a national record and third all-time Youth best. Also 16-year-old Italian Alessia Trost became the host nation's first ever World Youth champion.
Johan Rogestedt of Sweden became the first European ever to win the 800 metres, usually dominated by East African runners. In high jump, Russian-born Dmitriy Kroyter became Israel's first ever world youth champion.
Read more about 2009 World Youth Championships In Athletics: Medal Summary, Medals Table
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or youth:
“Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world so as to permit the emergence of political and social conditions in which free institutions can exist.”
—George Marshall (1880–1959)
“Hardly ever can a youth transferred to the society of his betters unlearn the nasality and other vices of speech bred in him by the associations of his growing years. Hardly ever, indeed, no matter how much money there be in his pocket, can he ever learn to dress like a gentleman-born. The merchants offer their wares as eagerly to him as to the veriest “swell,” but he simply cannot buy the right things.”
—William James (1842–1910)