1989 in the sport of athletics

This article contains an overview of the year 1989 in athletics.

International Events

 * African Championships
 * Asian Championships
 * Balkan Games
 * Central American and Caribbean Championships
 * Bolivarian Games
 * European Indoor Championships
 * Jeux de la Francophonie
 * South American Championships
 * World Cross Country Championships
 * World Indoor Championships
 * World Student Games

1,500 metres

 * Ivan ran 3:59.23 for 1500m on her way to the mile world record of 4:15.61 in Nice.

Births

 * January 1 — Fatih Avan, Turkish javelin thrower
 * January 24 — Gong Lijiao, Chinese shot putter
 * February 25 — Vira Rebryk, Ukrainian javelin thrower
 * June 15 — Teddy Tamgho, French triple jumper
 * June 24 — Teklemariam Medhin, Eritrean long-distance runner
 * July 1 — Abdinasir Said Ibrahim, Somali distance runner
 * August 16 — Wang Hao, Chinese race walker
 * September 12 — Aberu Kebede, Ethiopian long distance runner
 * December 5 — Linet Masai, Kenyan distance runner

Deaths

 * June 22 — Lee Calhoun (56), American athlete (b. 1933)