

TheWorld Athletics Relays, known as theIAAF World Relays until 2019, is an international biennialtrack and field sporting event held byWorld Athletics where teams from around the world compete inrelay races, some of which are not part of the standardOlympic programme. The first three editions were set to take place inNassau,Bahamas at theThomas Robinson Stadium in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Originally intended as an annual event, it was later decided to happen every odd year,[1] in the same year as theWorld Athletics Championships for which it serves as a qualification stage.
The competition format for the first edition included the4 × 100 metres relay, the4 × 200 metres relay, the4 × 400 metres relay, the4 × 800 metres relay and the4 × 1500 metres relay.[2] The first edition had a $1.4 million prize fund.
From the second edition, the 4 × 1500 metres relay was replaced by thedistance medley relay.[3] However, this was short-lived and was itself replaced by amixed-gender 4 × 400 metres relay for the third edition.[4] In 2019, the2 × 2 × 400 m relay and theshuttle hurdles relay were added to the mixed-gender category.[5] Starting from the 2024 edition, all the non-Olympic events were removed from the programme and only the mens and women's 4 × 100 and 4 × 400 metres remained, alongside the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay. In the 2025 edition, a mixed 4 × 100 metres was added to the programme, bringing the total to 6 events.[6]
The latest World Athletics Relays were held inGuangzhou,China at theGuangdong Olympic Stadium on 10 and 11 May 2025.
| Edition | Year | City | Country | Date | Venue | No. of Events | No. of Countries | No. of Athletes | Top of the medal table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014 | Nassau | 24–25 May | Thomas Robinson Stadium | 10 | 41 | 470 | United States | |
| 2 | 2015 | Nassau | 2–3 May | Thomas Robinson Stadium | 10 | 42 | 584 | United States | |
| 3 | 2017 | Nassau | 22–23 April | Thomas Robinson Stadium | 9 | 35 | 419 | United States | |
| 4 | 2019 | Yokohama | 11–12 May | Yokohama International Stadium | 9 | 43 | 529 | United States | |
| 5 | 2021 | Chorzów | 1–2 May | Silesian Stadium | 9 | 37 | 689 | ||
| 6 | 2024 | Nassau | 4–5 May | Thomas Robinson Stadium | 5 | 52 | 893 | United States | |
| 7 | 2025 | Guangzhou | 10–11 May | Tianhe Stadium | 6 | 43 | 734 | ||
| 8 | 2026 | Gaborone | 2–3 May | Botswana National Stadium | |||||
| 9 | 2028 | Nassau | 22–23 April | Thomas Robinson Stadium |
| Event | Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discipline | Gender | 2014 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | 2024 | 2025 |
| 4 × 100 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Women | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Shuttle hurdles relay | Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 4 × 200 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Women | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| 4 × 400 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Women | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 2 × 2 × 400 metres relay | Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 4 × 800 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Women | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| Distance medley relay | Men | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Women | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| 4 × 1500 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Women | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 100 m relay | 37.38 | Mike Rodgers Justin Gatlin Tyson Gay Ryan Bailey | 2 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [7] | |
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:18.63 | Nickel Ashmeade Warren Weir Jermaine Brown Yohan Blake | 24 May 2014 | 2014 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [8] | |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 2:57.25 | David Verburg Tony McQuay Christian Taylor LaShawn Merritt | 25 May 2014 | 2014 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [9] | |
| 4 × 800 m relay | 7:04.84 | Duane Solomon Erik Sowinski Casimir Loxsom Robby Andrews | 3 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [10] | |
| Distance medley relay | 9:15.50 | Kyle Merber 2:53.56(1200 m) Brycen Spratling 45.95(400 m) Brandon Johnson 1:44.75(800 m) Ben Blankenship 3:51.24(1600 m) | 3 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [11] | |
| 4 × 1500 m relay | 14:22.22 | Collins Cheboi Silas Kiplagat James Kiplagat Magut Asbel Kiprop | 25 May 2014 | 2014 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [12] |
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 100 m relay | 41.85 | Tamari Davis Gabrielle Thomas Celera Barnes Melissa Jefferson | 5 May 2024 | 2024 Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [13] | |
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:29.04 | Jura Levy Shericka Jackson Sashalee Forbes Elaine Thompson | 22 April 2017 | 2017 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [14] | |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:19.39 | Phyllis Francis Natasha Hastings Sanya Richards-Ross Francena McCorory | 3 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [15] | |
| 4 × 800 m relay | 8:00.62 | Chanelle Price Maggie Vessey Molly Beckwith-Ludlow Alysia Johnson Montaño | 3 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [16] | |
| Distance medley relay | 10:36.50 | Treniere Moser 3:18.38(1200 m) Sanya Richards-Ross 50.12(400 m) Ajee' Wilson 2:00.08(800 m) Shannon Rowbury 4:27.92(1600 m) | 2 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [17] | |
| 4 × 1500 m relay | 16:33.58 | Mercy Cherono Faith Kipyegon Irene Jelagat Hellen Onsando Obiri | 24 May 2014 | 2014 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [18] |
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:09.54 | Chris Robinson Courtney Okolo Johnnie Blockburger Lynna Irby-Jackson | 11 May 2025 | 2025 Relays | Guangzhou, China | [19] | |
| 2 × 2 × 400 m relay | 3:36.92 | Ce'Aira Brown Donavan Brazier | 11 May 2019 | 2019 Relays | Yokohama, Japan | [20] | |
| Shuttle hurdle relay | 54.96 | Christina Clemons Freddie Crittenden Sharika Nelvis Devon Allen | 11 May 2019 | 2019 Relays | Yokohama, Japan | [21] |
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 27 | 9 | 2 | 38 |
| 2 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 21 | |
| 3 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 12 | |
| 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 12 | |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | |
| 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 11 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | |
| 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 19 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| 20 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | |
| 21 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 22 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Totals (33 entries) | 58 | 58 | 57 | 173 | |
Multiple wins athletes are:[23]
| Athlete | Country | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel Ashmeade | Men's 4 × 100 m 2014, 4 × 200 m 2014/2015 | |
| Tony McQuay | United States | Men's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| LaShawn Merritt | United States | Men's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| David Verburg | United States | Men's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| Natasha Hastings | United States | Women's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| Chanelle Price | United States | Women's 4 × 800 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| Sanya Richards-Ross | United States | Women's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015, Distance Medley Relay 2015 |
| Athlete | Country | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Yohan Blake | Men's 4 × 100 m 2014, 4 × 200 m 2014 | |
| Justin Gatlin | United States | Men's 4 × 100 m 2015/2017 |
| Casimir Loxsom | United States | Men's 4 × 800 m 2015/2017 |
| Erik Sowinski | United States | Men's 4 × 800 m 2015/2017 |
| Warren Weir | Men's 4 × 200 m 2014/2015 | |
| Phyllis Francis | United States | Women's 4 × 400 m 2015/2017 |
| Ajeé Wilson | United States | Women's 4 × 800 m 2014, Distance Medley Relay 2015 |
| Quanera Hayes | United States | Women's 4 × 400 m 2017/2024 |
| Gabrielle Thomas | United States | Women's 4 × 100 m 2024, Women's 4 × 400 m 2024 |
| Lynna Irby | United States | Mixed 4 × 400 m 2024/2025 |