Athletics at the Summer Olympics

Athletics

Athletics, known as Track and Field in the United States, has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics.

Contents

Events

The events contested have varied widely.

Men's events

No new events have been added to the men's athletics programme since the 1952 addition of the short racewalk. The roster of events has not changed since then, with the exception of the omission of the long racewalk in 1976. The long racewalk is the only event held for men but not included on the women's programme.

A total of 52 different events have been held in the men's competition. 24 comprise the current list of events. Many of the discontinued events were similar to modern ones but at different lengths, especially in the steeplechasing, hurdling, and racewalking disciplines. Team racing events have been eliminated after appearing in six early editions of the Games. The athletic triathlon (an unusual event, held only once and featuring gymnasts competing in the long jump, shot put, and 100 metre dash) and pentathlon multi-discipline events were phased out in favor of the decathlon, and the medley relay replaced with even-leg relays. Standing jump competitions are no longer held, nor are the various modified throwing events which were experimented with in 1908 and 1912.

Event 96 00 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 Years
Current program
100 metres X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
200 metres - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
400 metres X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
800 metres X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
1500 metres X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
5000 metres - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
10000 metres - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
Marathon X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
110 metre hurdles X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
400 metre hurdles - X X X - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
3000 metre steeplechase - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 21
4 x 100 metres relay - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
4 x 400 metres relay - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
20 kilometre walk - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14
50 kilometre walk - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X X - X X X X X X X X 17
Long jump X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
Triple jump X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
High jump X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
Pole vault X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
Shot put X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
Discus throw X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
Hammer throw - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
Javelin throw - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
Decathlon - - X - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
Past events
60 meters - X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
200 metre hurdles - X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
2500 metre steeplechase - X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
3200 metre steeplechase - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
4000 metre steeplechase - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Medley relay - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3000 metre team race - - - - X X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
5000 metre team race - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3 mile team race - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
4 mile team race - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
5 miles - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3000 metre walk - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3500 metre walk - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
10 kilometre walk - - - - X X X - - - X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
10 mile walk - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Triathlon - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Pentathlon - - - - X X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Standing long jump - X X X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
Standing triple jump - X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
Standing high jump - X X X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
56 pound weight throw - - X - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
Two handed shot put - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Greek discus - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Two handed discus throw - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Freestyle javelin - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Two handed javelin throw - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Individual cross county - - - - X X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
Team cross country - - - - X X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
Events 12 23 25 26 30 29 24 22 23 23 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 23 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24

Women's events

Women's competition in athletics began at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Event 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 Years
100 metres X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19
200 metres - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16
400 metres - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X 12
800 metres X - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14
1,500 metres - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X 10
5000 metres - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X 4
10,000 metres - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X 6
Marathon - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X 7
100 metres hurdles - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X 10
400 metre hurdles - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X 7
3000 metre steeplechase - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X 1
4 x 100 metres relay X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19
4 x 400 metres relay - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X 10
20 kilometre walk - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X 3
High jump X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19
Pole vault - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X 3
Long Jump - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16
Triple jump - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X 4
Shot put - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16
Discus throw X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19
Hammer throw - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X 3
Javelin throw - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18
Heptathlon - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X 6
Past events
80 metre hurdles - X X X X X X X X - - - - - - - - - - 8
Pentathlon - - - - - - - X X X X X - - - - - - - 5
3,000 metres - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X - - - - 3
10 kilometre walk - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X - - - 2
Events 5 6 6 9 9 9 10 12 12 14 14 14 17 18 19 20 22 22 23

Nations

Nearly every nation that has competed at the Olympics has entered the athletics competition. The number in each box represents the number of athletes the nation sent.

Nation 96 00 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 Years
Australasia Australasia (ANZ) - - - 9 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
Australia Australia (AUS) 1 1 2 - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
Austria Austria (AUT) - 1 - 3 12 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
Belgium Belgium (BEL) - - - 6 2 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
Bohemia Bohemia (BOH) - 4 - 3 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
Canada Canada (CAN) - 2 5 27 18 X X X X X X X X X X X X X - X X X X X X 23
Chile Chile (CHI) 1 - - - 6
China China (CHN) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X 6
Croatia Croatia (CRO) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X 4
Cuba Cuba (CUB) - - 1 - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X - - X X X X 20
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (TCH) - - - - - 24 21 18 5 31 13 25 18 30 12 14 32 15 24 - 22 18 - - - 16
Denmark Denmark (DEN) 3 4 - 8 14 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
Estonia Estonia (EST) - - - - - X X X X X - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X 9
Finland Finland (FIN) - - - 15 23 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
France France (FRA) 6 23 - 19 32 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
Germany Germany (GER) 5 6 9 21 24 - X X X X - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X 13
Great Britain Great Britain (GBR) 5 9 3 126 65 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
Greece Greece (GRE) 29 2 10 12 5 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
Hungary Hungary (HUN) 3 9 2 20 27 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
Iceland Iceland (ISL) - - - - 1
India India (IND) - 1 - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
Ireland Ireland (IRL) - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19
Italy Italy (ITA) - 2 - 13 14 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
Japan Japan (JPN) - - - - 2 X X X X X - X X X X X X X - X X X X X X 16
South Korea South Korea (KOR) - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X - X X X X X X 12
Luxembourg Luxembourg (LUX) - - - - 2 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
Netherlands Netherlands (NED) - - - 20 1 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
Norway Norway (NOR) - 2 - 11 23 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
Portugal Portugal (POR) - - - - 4 - X X X X X X - X X X X X X X X X X X X 19
Russia Russia (RUS) - - - 1 35 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X 6
Serbia Serbia (SRB) - - - - 3
South Africa South Africa (RSA) - - 3 9 7 X X X X X X X X X X - - - - - - X X X X 16
Sweden Sweden (SWE) 1 8 - 33 108 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
Switzerland Switzerland (SUI) - - 1 1 1 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
Soviet Union Soviet Union (URS) - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X - X - - - - 9
Turkey Turkey (TUR) - - - - 2
United States United States (USA) 10 43 197 89 109 X X X X X X X X X X X X X - X X X X X X 24
No. of nations 10 15 10 20 27
No. of athletes 64 117 233 446 556

All-time medal table 1896-2008

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States United States (USA) 311 238 189 738
2 Soviet Union Soviet Union (URS) 64 55 74 193
3 Great Britain Great Britain (GBR) 49 78 61 188
4 Finland Finland (FIN) 48 35 30 113
5 East Germany East Germany (GDR) 38 36 35 109
6 Poland Poland (POL) 22 17 13 52
7 Kenya Kenya (KEN) 21 28 19 68
8 Australia Australia (AUS) 19 24 25 68
9 Sweden Sweden (SWE) 19 21 41 81
10 Italy Italy (ITA) 19 15 25 59
11 Russia Russia (RUS) 18 22 20 60
12 Ethiopia Ethiopia (ETH) 18 6 14 38
13 Germany Germany (GER) 15 20 34 69
14 Jamaica Jamaica (JAM) 13 24 15 52
15 France France (FRA) 13 21 24 58
16 Canada Canada (CAN) 13 14 25 52
17 West Germany West Germany (FRG) 12 14 17 43
18 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (TCH) 11 8 5 24
19 Romania Romania (ROU) 11 14 10 35
20 Cuba Cuba (CUB) 10 13 14 37
21 Hungary Hungary (HUN) 9 12 17 38
22 New Zealand New Zealand (NZL) 9 1 9 19
23 Unified Team Unified Team (EUN) 7 11 3 21
24 Japan Japan (JPN) 7 7 8 22
25 Norway Norway (NOR) 7 5 8 20
26 Greece Greece (GRE) 6 12 11 29
27 South Africa South Africa (RSA) 6 11 6 23
28 Morocco Morocco (MAR) 6 5 7 18
29 Netherlands Netherlands (NED) 6 3 6 15
30 Bulgaria Bulgaria (BUL) 5 7 6 18
31 China China (CHN) 5 3 7 15
32 Germany Germany (EUA) 4 18 8 30
33 Ireland Ireland (IRL) 4 2 0 6
34 Mexico Mexico (MEX) 3 5 2 10
35 Brazil Brazil (BRA) 4 3 7 14
36 Belarus Belarus (BLR) 4 6 9 19
37 Portugal Portugal (POR) 4 2 4 10
38 Czech Republic Czech Republic (CZE) 4 1 3 8
39 Belgium Belgium (BEL) 3 6 2 11
40 Ukraine Ukraine (UKR) 3 2 10 15
41 Algeria Algeria (ALG) 3 1 2 6
42 Lithuania Lithuania (LTU) 3 1 1 5
43 Spain Spain (ESP) 2 4 5 11
44 Bahamas Bahamas (BAH) 2 3 3 8
45 Argentina Argentina (ARG) 2 3 0 5
46 Estonia Estonia (EST) 2 1 2 5
47 Cameroon Cameroon (CMR) 2 0 0 2
48 Nigeria Nigeria (NGR) 1 4 8 13
49 Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) 1 4 5 10
50 Austria Austria (AUT) 1 2 4 7
51 Tunisia Tunisia (TUN) 1 2 1 4
52 Slovenia Slovenia (SLO) 1 1 1 3
53 South Korea South Korea (KOR) 1 1 0 2
53 Mixed team Mixed team (ZZX) 1 1 0 2
53 Ecuador Ecuador (ECU) 1 1 0 2
56 Panama Panama (PAN) 1 0 2 3
57 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan (KAZ) 1 0 1 2
57 Mozambique Mozambique (MOZ) 1 0 1 2
57 Uganda Uganda (UGA) 1 0 1 2
60 Burundi Burundi (BDI) 1 0 0 1
60 Bahrain Bahrain (BRN) 1 0 0 1
60 Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (DOM) 1 0 0 1
60 Luxembourg Luxembourg (LUX) 1 0 0 1
60 Syria Syria (SYR) 1 0 0 1
65 Switzerland Switzerland (SUI) 0 6 2 8
66 Latvia Latvia (LAT) 0 4 1 5
67 Namibia Namibia (NAM) 0 4 0 4
68 Denmark Denmark (DEN) 0 2 4 6
69 Turkey Turkey (TUR) 0 2 2 4
70 Chile Chile (CHI) 0 2 0 2
70 India India (IND) 0 2 0 2
70 Tanzania Tanzania (TAN) 0 2 0 2
70 Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (YUG) 0 2 0 2
74 Iceland Iceland (ISL) 0 1 1 2
74 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (SRI) 0 1 1 2
74 Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (TPE) 0 1 1 2
77 Bohemia Bohemia (BOH) 0 1 0 1
77 Croatia Croatia (CRO) 0 1 0 1
77 Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire (CIV) 0 1 0 1
77 Haiti Haiti (HAI) 0 1 0 1
77 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (KSA) 0 1 0 1
77 Senegal Senegal (SEN) 0 1 0 1
77 Sudan Sudan (SUD) 0 1 0 1
77 Zambia Zambia (ZAM) 0 1 0 1
85 British West Indies British West Indies (BWI) 0 0 2 2
85 Philippines Philippines (PHI) 0 0 2 2
87 Australasia Australasia (ANZ) 0 0 1 1
87 Barbados Barbados (BAR) 0 0 1 1
87 Colombia Colombia (COL) 0 0 1 1
87 Djibouti Djibouti (DJI) 0 0 1 1
87 Eritrea Eritrea (ERI) 0 0 1 1
87 Qatar Qatar (QAT) 0 0 1 1
87 Venezuela Venezuela (VEN) 0 0 1 1
Total 93 nations 883 891 883 2657
Sports at the Olympic Games
Summer sports

Archery • Athletics • Badminton • Basketball • Boxing • Canoeing • Cycling • Diving • Equestrian • Field hockey • Fencing • Football • Gymnastics • Handball • Judo • Modern pentathlon • Rowing • Sailing • Shooting • Swimming • Synchronized swimming • Table tennis • Taekwondo • Tennis • Triathlon • Volleyball • Water polo • Weightlifting • Wrestling
Winter sports

Alpine skiing • Biathlon • Bobsleigh • Cross‑country skiing • Curling • Figure skating • Freestyle skiing • Ice hockey • Luge • Nordic combined • Short track speed skating • Skeleton • Ski jumping • Snowboarding • Speed skating
Past sports

Baseball • Basque pelota • Cricket • Croquet • Golf • Jeu de paume • Lacrosse • Polo • Rackets • Roque • Rugby union • Softball • Tug of war • Water motorsports
Athletics at the Summer Olympics
Athletics pictogram.svg
1896 • 1900 • 1904 • 1908 • 1912 • 1920 • 1924 • 1928 • 1932 • 1936 • 1948 • 1952 • 1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1996 • 2000 • 2004 • 2008
List of medalists (men, women) • List of Olympic records
International athletics

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     Asia: AAA – Asian Championships
     Africa: CAA – African Championships
     North America: NACAC – NACAC Championships
     South America: CONSUDATLE – South American Championships
     Oceania: OAA – ?
     Europe: EAA – European Championships
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