World Youth Champs conclude as medals go to record number of countries

Bressanone/Brixen - A record number of 46 countries won medals at the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships here in Bressanone to conclude an exceptional edition of the 5-day competition.

The previous best had been set at the last edition of these championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic two years ago where 40 countries managed to place at least one athlete on a podium.

Israel, Thailand and Uzbekistan straight gold medals

It is a massive improvement over the 30 countries that had medalled at the original World Youth Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland ten years ago to understate the worldwide development of track and field athletics over the last decade.

Here in Bressanone, no fewer than 9 nations made their first ever entry on the medal table of a World Youth Championships with Thailand, Uzbekistan and Israel being notable winners of their first gold medal.