Athletics is a sport that includes a number of events involving running, jumping, throwing or walking. Often referred to as track & field, the sport includes single events, such as the 100m, marathon or long jump, combined events, including the decathlon and heptathlon, or team-based events such as the 4x100m relays.
By whom, where and when was athletics invented?
While athletics has been practised throughout history, the first ever event contested at the ancient Olympic Games was the “stadium” race, a sprint of about 192 metres. Winners in this event have been recorded from as far back as 776 BC.
Athletics and the Olympics
The ancient Olympic Games included a number of athletics events that sports fans today would recognise including running, long jump, shot put and javelin. By the time of the first modern Olympic Games at Athens 1896, athletics was once again one of the main features of the programme, with track events ranging from 100m to 1500m, the marathon, and field events such as long jump and pole vault. At Tokyo 2020, athletes competed in 26 events - the same number that is on the programme for Paris 2024.
Best Athletes to watch
Men’s marathon world record holderEliud Kipchoge of Kenya is one of the biggest stars in athletics today, with the double Olympic champion aiming to make history at Paris 2024 by winning a third-consecutive Olympic marathon gold medal. Another world record holder who is aiming for her second gold medal in a row is women’s 400m hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin, while in the men’s pole vault Sweden’s Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis is the reigning Olympic and world champion, as well as a multiple world record holder in the event. Also watch out for Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, the triple jump world record holder, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Olympic 100m and 200m champion from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, her compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and reigning women’s shot put gold medallist, Gong Lijiao, among many other stars of the sport.
Track and field athletics competition rules and event format at Paris 2024
While most of the competition rules for athletics at Paris 2024 remain the same as previous Olympic Games, one new addition are the ‘repechage rounds’ that will be introduced for all individual track events from 200m to 1500m, including hurdles.
In each first round heat on the track, a certain a number of athletes will progress to the second round by finishing in the automatic qualifying positions. However, those who did not finish in the automatic qualifying positions will have a second chance to qualify for the semi-finals by participating in the repechage heats.
