Flying disc at the World Games facts for kids
Flying disc sports are exciting games played with a special disc, often called a Frisbee. These sports became part of the World Games in 2001. The World Games are a big international sports event, like the Olympics, but for sports not yet in the Olympic Games.
Flying disc sports first appeared at the 2001 World Games in Akita, Japan. At first, two types of flying disc sports were played: Disc golf and Ultimate. However, Disc golf was only played once, in 2001. Since then, Ultimate has been the only flying disc event at the World Games.
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Ultimate at the World Games
Ultimate is a fast-paced team sport played with a flying disc. Teams try to score points by passing the disc to teammates until someone catches it in the opposing end zone. It's known for its spirit of sportsmanship.
From 2001 to 2017, the Ultimate tournament at the World Games usually had six teams. These teams were the top five countries from the previous World Ultimate Championships (which includes men's, women's, and mixed teams) plus the country hosting the World Games. In 2022, the tournament grew to include eight teams.
The way Ultimate was played also changed over time. From 2001 to 2009, each team had six players on the field at once, with three women and three men. In 2013, the rules changed to seven players per side. Teams had to have either three men and four women, or four men and three women on the field.
Ultimate Medal Winners
Here are the countries that have won medals in Ultimate at the World Games:
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Akita |  Canada (CAN) |
 United States (USA) |
 Japan (JPN) |
| 2005 Duisburg | United States (USA) |
 Australia (AUS) |
Canada (CAN) |
| 2009 Kaohsiung | United States (USA) |
Japan (JPN) |
Australia (AUS) |
| 2013 Cali | United States (USA) |
Australia (AUS) |
Canada (CAN) |
| 2017 Wrocław | United States (USA) |
 Colombia (COL) |
Canada (CAN) |
| 2022 Birmingham | United States (USA) |
Australia (AUS) |
Colombia (COL) |
Ultimate Team Achievements
This table shows how well different countries have done in Ultimate at the World Games over the years:
| Team | Appearances | Winners | Runners-up | Third-place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 United States |
6 | 5 (2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2022) | 1 (2001) | – |
 Canada |
5 | 1 (2001) | – | 3 (2005, 2013, 2017) |
 Australia |
5 | – | 3 (2005, 2013,2022) | 1 (2009) |
 Japan |
4 | – | 1 (2009) | 1 (2001) |
 Colombia |
3 | – | 1 (2017) | 1 (2022) |
^ a: Hosts
Disc Golf at the World Games
Disc golf is a sport where players throw a disc into a special target, similar to golf. The goal is to complete each "hole" in the fewest throws possible. Disc golf was only featured once at the World Games, in 2001.
Men's Disc Golf Medal Winners (2001)
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Akita | Barry Schultz (USA) |
Michael Sullivan (CAN) |
 Jesper Lundmark (SWE) |
Women's Disc Golf Medal Winners (2001)
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Akita | Juliana Korver (USA) |
Niloofar Mosavar Rahmani (SWE) |
 Ruth Steele (GBR) |
