Athletics at the Summer Olympics

Athletics at the Summer Olympics
Athletics
Governing body IAAF
Events 47 (men: 24; women: 23)
Games
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
Medalists • Records

Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The modern program now comprises track and field events, road running events, and racewalking events. Cross country running was also on the program in earlier editions but it was dropped after the 1924 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 currently 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
10,000 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 metres 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 metres 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 metres 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 km walk - - - - - - - - - - - - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14
50 km 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 metres - X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
200 metres hurdles - X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
2500 metres steeplechase - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
2590 metres steeplechase - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3200 metres steeplechase - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
4000 metres steeplechase - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Medley relay - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3000 metres team race - - - - X X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
5000 metres team race - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3 mile team race - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
4 mile team race - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
5 miles - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3000 metres walk - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
3500 metres walk - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
10 kilometres walk - - - - X X X - - - X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
10 miles 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 27 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
1500 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 km 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 7
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 08 Years
 Argentina (ARG) – – – – – – 10
 Australasia (ANZ) – – – 9 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2
 Australia (AUS) 1 1 2 – – 4 9 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
 Austria (AUT) – 1 – 3 12 – 6 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
 Belgium (BEL) – – – 6 2 42 17 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
 Bohemia (BOH) – 4 – 3 11 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3
 Brazil (BRA) – – – – – – 8
 Bulgaria (BUL) – – – – – – 4
 Canada (CAN) – 2 5 27 18 14 27 X X X X X X X X X X X – X X X X X X 23
 Chile (CHI) 1 – – – 6 2 3
 China (CHN) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – X X X X X X 6
 Croatia (CRO) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – X X X X 4
 Cuba (CUB) – – 1 – – – – X X X X X X X X X X X X – – X X X X 17
 Czechoslovakia (TCH) – – – – – 16 17 18 5 31 13 25 18 30 12 14 32 15 24 – 22 18 – – – – 16
 Denmark (DEN) 3 4 – 8 14 18 9 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 5 3 24
 Ecuador (ECU) – – – – – – 3
 Egypt (EGY) – – – – – 2 1
 Estonia (EST) – – – – – 7 11 4 1 7 – – – – – – – – – – – 5 13 5 15 14 10
 Finland (FIN) – – – 15 23 26 52 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
 France (FRA) 6 23 – 19 32 59 70 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
 Germany (GER) 5 6 9 21 24 – – X X X – – – – – – – – – – – X X X X 12
 Great Britain (GBR) 5 9 3 126 65 41 65 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
 Greece (GRE) 29 2 10 12 5 9 12 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
 Haiti (HAI) – – – – – – 3
 Hungary (HUN) 3 9 2 20 27 – 16 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
 Iceland (ISL) – – – – 1 – –
 India (IND) – 1 – – – 3 7 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
 Iran (IRI) – – – – – – – – – – 1 2 1 8 1 3 4 – – 1 2 1 1 2 6 13
 Ireland (IRL) – – – – – – 11 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 19
 Italy (ITA) – 2 – 13 14 24 36 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
 Japan (JPN) – – – – 2 11 8 X X X – X X X X X X X – X X X X X X 16
 South Korea (KOR) – – – – – – – – – – X X X X X X X X – X X X X X X 12
 Latvia (LAT) – – – – – – 10
 Lithuania (LTU) – 5 6 14 18 12 18 6
 Luxembourg (LUX) – – – – 2 7 3 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
 Mexico (MEX) – – – – – – 11
 Monaco (MON) – – – – – 2 1
 Netherlands (NED) – – – 20 1 11 19 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 22
 New Zealand (NZL) – – – – – 2 1
 Norway (NOR) – 2 – 11 23 16 10 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
 Philippines (PHI) – – – – – – 1
 Poland (POL) – – – – – – 14
 Portugal (POR) – – – – 4 – 3 X X X X X – X X X X X X X X X X X X 19
 Russia (RUS) – – – 1 35 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – X X X X 6
 Serbia (SRB) – – – – 3 – –
 South Africa (RSA) – – 3 9 7 13 12 X X X X X X X X – – – – – – X X X X 16
 Spain (ESP) – – – – – 14 13
 Sweden (SWE) 1 8 – 33 108 63 33 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
 Switzerland (SUI) – – 1 1 1 13 17 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 23
 Soviet Union (URS) – – – – – – – – – – – X X X X X X X X – X – – – – – 9
 Turkey (TUR) – – – – 2 – 4
 United States (USA) 10 43 197 89 109 90 96 X X X X X X X X X X X – X X X X X X 24
 Yugoslavia (YUG) – – – – – – 5
No. of nations 10 15 10 20 27 25 40
No. of athletes 64 117 233 446 556 509 657

Medal table

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  United States (USA) 311 238 189 738
2  Soviet Union (URS) 64 55 74 193
3  Great Britain (GBR) 49 78 61 188
4  Finland (FIN) 48 35 30 113
5  East Germany (GDR) 38 36 35 109
6  Kenya (KEN) 22 27 19 68
7  Poland (POL) 22 17 13 52
8  Australia (AUS) 19 24 25 68
9  Sweden (SWE) 19 21 41 81
10  Italy (ITA) 19 15 25 59
11  Russia (RUS) 18 22 20 60
12  Ethiopia (ETH) 18 6 14 38
13  Germany (GER) 15 20 34 69
14  Jamaica (JAM) 13 25 16 54
15  France (FRA) 13 21 25 59
16  Canada (CAN) 13 14 25 52
17  West Germany (FRG) 12 14 17 43
18  Romania (ROU) 11 14 10 35
19  Czechoslovakia (TCH) 11 8 5 24
20  Cuba (CUB) 10 13 14 37
21  Hungary (HUN) 9 13 17 39
22  New Zealand (NZL) 9 2 8 19
23  Unified Team (EUN) 7 11 3 21
24  Japan (JPN) 7 7 9 23
25  Norway (NOR) 7 5 8 20
26  Greece (GRE) 6 12 11 29
27  South Africa (RSA) 6 11 6 23
28  Morocco (MAR) 6 5 7 18
29  Netherlands (NED) 6 3 6 15
30  Bulgaria (BUL) 5 7 6 18
31  China (CHN) 5 3 7 15
32  Germany (EUA) 4 18 8 30
33  Belarus (BLR) 4 5 8 17
34  Brazil (BRA) 4 3 7 14
35  Portugal (POR) 4 2 4 10
36  Ireland (IRL) 4 2 0 6
37  Czech Republic (CZE) 4 1 3 8
38  Belgium (BEL) 3 6 2 11
39  Mexico (MEX) 3 5 2 10
40  Ukraine (UKR) 3 2 10 15
41  Bahamas (BAH) 3 2 3 8
42  Algeria (ALG) 3 1 2 6
43  Lithuania (LTU) 3 1 1 5
44  Spain (ESP) 2 4 5 11
45  Argentina (ARG) 2 3 0 5
46  Estonia (EST) 2 1 2 5
47  Cameroon (CMR) 2 0 0 2
48  Nigeria (NGR) 1 4 8 13
49  Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) 1 4 5 10
50  Peru (PER) 1 3 0 4
51  Austria (AUT) 1 2 4 7
52  Tunisia (TUN) 1 2 1 4
53  Slovenia (SLO) 1 1 1 3
54  Ecuador (ECU) 1 1 0 2
54  South Korea (KOR) 1 1 0 2
54  Mixed team (ZZX) 1 1 0 2
57  Panama (PAN) 1 0 2 3
58  Kazakhstan (KAZ) 1 0 1 2
58  Mozambique (MOZ) 1 0 1 2
58  Uganda (UGA) 1 0 1 2
61  Burundi (BDI) 1 0 0 1
61  Dominican Republic (DOM) 1 0 0 1
61  Luxembourg (LUX) 1 0 0 1
61  Syria (SYR) 1 0 0 1
65  Switzerland (SUI) 0 6 2 8
66  Latvia (LAT) 0 4 1 5
67  Namibia (NAM) 0 4 0 4
68  Denmark (DEN) 0 2 4 6
69  Turkey (TUR) 0 2 2 4
70  Chile (CHI) 0 2 0 2
70  India (IND) 0 2 0 2
70  Sri Lanka (SRI) 0 2 0 2
70  Tanzania (TAN) 0 2 0 2
70  Yugoslavia (YUG) 0 2 0 2
75  Iceland (ISL) 0 1 1 2
75  Chinese Taipei (TPE) 0 1 1 2
75  Bohemia (BOH) 0 1 0 1
75  Croatia (CRO) 0 1 0 1
75  Côte d'Ivoire (CIV) 0 1 0 1
75  Haiti (HAI) 0 1 0 1
55  Saudi Arabia (KSA) 0 1 0 1
75  Senegal (SEN) 0 1 0 1
75  Sudan (SUD) 0 1 0 1
75  Zambia (ZAM) 0 1 0 1
85  British West Indies (BWI) 0 0 2 2
85  Philippines (PHI) 0 0 2 2
87  Australasia (ANZ) 0 0 1 1
87  Barbados (BAR) 0 0 1 1
87  Colombia (COL) 0 0 1 1
87  Djibouti (DJI) 0 0 1 1
87  Eritrea (ERI) 0 0 1 1
87  Qatar (QAT) 0 0 1 1
87  Venezuela (VEN) 0 0 1 1
Total 92 nations 884 892 883 2659

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