The 1991 Championships in Japan's capital provided some memorable performances and gave us a taste of what was to come from some of the world's best.

Britain may have only won one individual gold medal, Liz McColgan's fine display of distance running in the 10,000m, but Britian's first-ever victory in the 4 x 400m provided a fitting climax to a mouthwatering championship.

The quartet of Roger Black, Derek Redmond, John Regis and Kris Akabusi trailed the Americans for 1500 metres until Akabusi, who won bronze in the 400m hurdles, kicked past individual 400m winner Antonio Pettigrew down the final straight.

Black had arguably the best chance to claim an individual gold medal in the 400 metres but he suffered badly in the final 30 metres. However, he did claim a respectable silver.

Sally Gunnell was favourite to take to 400 metres hurdles but a stutter before the final obstacle meant she had to settle for second place.

Elsewhere, Nouredine Morceli produced a breathtaking final lap to run away with the 1500m, his first of three, and Kenya's Moses Kiptanui won the 3000m steeplechase, also the start of a treble.

The long jump was one of the best contests we have ever been treated to.

American's Mike Powell and Carl Lewis chased Bob Beamon's 19-year-old record in perfect conditions.

Powell prevailed in 8.95 metres - a record that still survives to this day.

Dan O'Brien won the first of three decathlon titles and East Germany's later-disgraced Katrin Krabbe slaughtered high-quality fields in the 100 and 200 metres.