1991 in the sport of athletics

This article contains an overview of the year 1991 in athletics.

International Events

 * All-Africa Games
 * Asian Championships
 * Central American and Caribbean Championships
 * Mediterranean Games
 * Pan American Games
 * South American Championships
 * World Championships
 * World Cross Country Championships
 * World Indoor Championships
 * World Student Games

Men

 * The relay team of the United States in the men's 4 × 100 m, formed by Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard and Carl Lewis, equal the current world record, set the previous year by France at the European Championships, clocking 37.79 on 1991-08-03 at a meet in Monaco. The first mark was set by Max Morinière, Daniel Sangouma, Jean-Charles Trouabal and Bruno Marie-Rose on 1990-09-01 in Split, Yugoslavia.

100 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 100 metres

200 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 200 metres

400 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 400 metres

800 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 800 metres

1,500 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 1,500 metres

5,000 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 5,000 metres

10,000 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 10,000 metres

Marathon

 * Main race this year: World Championships Marathon

110m hurdles

 * Main race this year: World Championships 110m hurdles

400m hurdles

 * Main race this year: World Championships 400m hurdles

3,000m steeplechase

 * Main race this year: World Championships 3,000m steeplechase

High jump

 * Main competition this year: World Championships High Jump

Long jump

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Long Jump

Triple jump

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Triple Jump

Discus

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Discus Throw

Shot put

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Shot Put

Javelin (new design)

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Javelin Throw

Pole vault

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Pole Vault

100 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 100 metres

200 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 200 metres

800 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 800 metres

1,500 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 1,500 metres

3,000 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 3,000 metres

10,000 metres

 * Main race this year: World Championships 10,000 metres

Marathon

 * Main race this year: World Championships Marathon

100m hurdles

 * Main race this year: World Championships 100m hurdles

400m hurdles

 * Main race this year: World Championships 400m hurdles

High Jump

 * Main competition this year: World Championships High Jump

Long Jump

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Long Jump

Shot put

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Shot Put

Javelin (old design)

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Javelin

Heptathlon

 * Main competition this year: World Championships Heptathlon

Births

 * January 15 &mdash; Darya Klishina, Russian long jumper
 * May 8 &mdash; Kalkidan Gezahegne, Ethiopian distance runner

Deaths

 * January 1 — Inga Gentzel (82), Swedish athlete (b. 1908)
 * August 10 — Ellen Braumüller (80), German athlete (b. 1910)