| Event: | Discus throw |
| Gender: | Men and women |
| Firstyearmen: | 1983 |
| Lastyearmen: | 2015 |
| Firstyearwomen: | 1983 |
| Lastyearwomen: | 2015 |
| Crmen: | 71.46 m Daniel Ståhl (2023) |
| Crwomen: | 71.62 m Martina Hellmann (1987) |
The discus throw at the World Championships in Athletics has been contested by both men and women since the inaugural edition in 1983. The competition format typically has one qualifying round contested by two groups of athletes, with all those clearing the qualifying height or placing in top twelve overall advancing to the final round.
In the 2015 World Championships in Athletics the qualifying distance for men was 65.00 m and for women 63.00 m.
The championship records for the event are 71.46 m for men, set by Daniel Ståhl in 2023, and 71.62 m for women, set by Martina Hellmann in 1987.
| Distinction | Male athlete | Age | Female athlete | Age | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngest champion | Lars Riedel | 24 years, 60 days | Dani Samuels | 21 years, 87 days | |
| Youngest medalist | Robert Harting | 22 years, 314 days | Dani Samuels | 21 years, 87 days | |
| Youngest participant | Robert McNabb | 18 years, 232 days | Siniva Marsters | 16 years, 304 days | |
| Oldest champion | Lars Riedel | 34 years, 41 days | Ellina Zvereva | 40 years, 268 days | |
| Oldest medalist | John Powell | 40 years, 81 days | Ellina Zvereva | 40 years, 268 days | |
| Oldest participant | Virgilijus Alekna | 41 years, 180 days | Ellina Zvereva | 48 years, 276 days |
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Period | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1991–2001 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2 | 2007–2013 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 1997–2005 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 4 | 2005–2013 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | ||
| 5 | 2009–2015 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 1987–1997 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 7 | 2017–2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 8 | 1983–1987 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 9= | 1995–2003 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 9= | 2001–2005 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 15 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | ||
| 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 10 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Period | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999–2007 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 2 | 2013–2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 1995–2001 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 1983–1987 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 5= | 1987–1991 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 5= | 1993–1995 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 7 | 2007–2013 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 8 | 1999–2001 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 1991–1995 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 10 | 1999–2009 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 11= | 1997–2005 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 11= | 2011–2015 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |
| 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 13 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |