100 metres at the World Championships in Athletics

100 metres at the World Championships in Athletics
The heats of the men's 100 m in 2013
Overview
Gender	Men and women
Years held	Men: 1983 – 2015 Women: 1983 – 2015
Championship record
Men	9.58 Usain Bolt (2009)
Women	10.70 Marion Jones (1999)
Reigning champion
Men	Usain Bolt (JAM)
Women	Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)

The 100 metres at the World Championships in Athletics has been contested by both men and women since the inaugural edition in 1983. It is the second most prestigious 100 m title after the 100 metres at the Olympics. The competition format typically has two or three qualifying rounds leading to a final between eight athletes. Since 2011 a preliminary round has been held, where athletes who have not achieved the qualifying standard time compete to enter the first round proper.

The championship records for the event are 9.58 seconds for men, set by Usain Bolt in 2009, and 10.70 seconds for women, set by Marion Jones in 1999. The men's world record has been broken or equalled at the competition three times: by Carl Lewis in 1987 and 1991, and by Usain Bolt in 2009.Ben Johnson ran faster than Lewis in 1987, but his record was subsequently annulled due to doping. Lewis's mark, which equalled the standing record at the time, was never officially ratified by the IAAF as a world record. The women's world record has never been beaten at the championships.

Carl Lewis, Maurice Greene and Usain Bolt are the most successful male athletes of the event, having each won three titles. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is the most successful female athlete of the event as the only woman to win three titles. Merlene Ottey and Carmelita Jeter are the only athletes to have claimed four medals in the history of the World Championships event.