Athletics – history, rules, reigning champions – Firstpost

Athletics, also known as track and field, was at the heart of the ancient Olympic Games in Greece. It is indeed one of the oldest forms of sport invented by man, with basic everyday activities such as walking, running, jumping and throwing forming the basis of the various disciplines that make up athletics.

Athletics is also a highlight of the modern Summer Olympics. The sprint events (100 metres and 200 metres, individual and relay) are among the most watched events at any Olympic Games, regardless of the era, and generate a level of excitement that few other sports can match. The world record holder in the 100 metres is widely regarded as “the fastest man alive”.

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Further adding to the aura of athletics is the fact that the athletics events are held at the central venue that hosts the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

The modern version of athletics has its roots in 19th-century England, with competitions being held as early as 1840. The International Amateur Athletic Federation, the sport’s world governing body, was formed shortly after the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm.

What is the history of athletics at the Olympic Games?

Athletics is an integral part of the modern Olympic Games, having been part of every edition since the inaugural Games in Athens in 1896. With the exception of the addition of the 20 km walk in Melbourne in 1956, the total number of men’s events has remained the same since Los Angeles 1932.

Women’s athletics debuted in Amsterdam in 1928 and consisted of only 17 events until the 1992 Games in Barcelona. However, with the addition of the 3000m steeplechase, women compete in as many athletics events as men.

Long-distance running was once part of the Olympic programme, but was dropped after Paris 1924. Several other events have also been dropped from the Olympics over the years, including the 60-metre sprint which had featured at the 1900 and 1904 Games, with the United States winning gold and silver on both occasions.

The United States is by far the most dominant nation in track and field with a total of 827 medals, almost four times more than Great Britain’s 210. This total includes 344 medals, more than five times more than the former Soviet Union’s 64 medals.

American athletes face intense competition from Jamaicans in the sprint events, with the two countries sharing a fierce rivalry since the Caribbean island nation made its Olympic debut in London in 1948. East African nations like Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda, meanwhile, dominate the distance running events, including the marathon.

What are the rules?

The track events take place on a 400-metre (440-yard) oval track in the Olympic Stadium which has two straights and two bends.

This track is where running events take place, over distances ranging from 100 to 10,000 metres. Individual races and relay races, as well as hurdle and steeplechase races, are organised here.

Field events such as the javelin throw, hammer throw and arrow throw are held on the field located inside the 400-meter track. Other events such as the long jump and triple jump are usually held in a jumping pit located at the edge of the track.

There are also events like the marathon and race walks — which can last either 20 or 50 kilometers — which are road events and have spectators lining the course to cheer on the athletes.

Most athletics events feature preliminary rounds called heats, from which the highest-ranked athletes advance to the final to compete for a podium finish.

Who are the defending champions?

Men

100m: Marcell Jacobs (Italy)

200m: André De Grasse (Canada)

400m: Steven Gardiner (Bahamas)

800 m: Emmanuel Korir (Kenya)

1500m: Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway)

5000m: Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda)

10000m: Selemon Barega (Ethiopia)

110m hurdles: Hansle Parchment (Jamaica)

400 m hurdles: Karsten Warholm (Norway)

3000m steeplechase: Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco)

4x100m relay: Italy

4x400m Relay: USA

Marathon: Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)

20km walk: Massimo Stano (Italy)

50km walk: Dawid Tomala (Poland)

High Jump: Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy)/Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar)

Pole vault: Armand Duplantis (Sweden)

Long jump: Miltiadis Tentoglou (Greece)

Triple jump: Pedro Pichardo (Portugal)

Shot Put: Ryan Crouser (USA)

Discus throw: Daniel Ståhl (Sweden)

Hammer throw: Wojciech Nowicki (Poland)

Javelin throw: Neeraj Chopra (India)

Decathlon: Damian Warner (Canada)

Women

100m: Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica)

200m: Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica)

400m: Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas)

800 m: Athing Mu (United States)

1500 m: Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)

5000 m: Sifan Hassan (Netherlands)

10000m: Sifan Hassan (Netherlands)

100m hurdles: Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Puerto Rico)

400m hurdles: Sydney McLaughlin (USA)

3000m steeplechase: Peruth Chemutai (Uganda)

4x100m Relay: Jamaica

4x400m Relay: USA

Marathon: Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya)

20km walk: Antonella Palmisano (Italy)

High Jump: Mariya Lasitskene (Russian Olympic Committee)

Pole vault: Katie Nageotte (USA)

Long jump: Malaika Mihambo (Germany)

Triple jump: Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela)

Shot put: Gong Lijiao (China)

Discus throw: Valarie Allman (USA)

Hammer throw: Anita Włodarczyk (Poland)

Javelin throw: Liu Shiying (China)

Heptathlon: Nafissatou Thiam (Belgium)

How many athletes have qualified in athletics?

A total of 1,810 competitors will take part in various athletics events

Who are the athletes to follow in athletics?

Sha’Carri Richardson, United States:The 100m world champion will make her Olympic debut after a positive doping test sidelined her three years ago in Tokyo.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, United States:She is the reigning champion and world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, although there are signs she will attempt another event this year.

Noah Lyles, United States:Lyles is set to attempt a 100-200 double after winning both world championship titles last year.

Mondo Duplantis, Sweden:He will attempt to defend his pole vault title and become the first man since 1956 to win the event in two consecutive Olympics. He has broken the world record eight times in the last four years, each time by one centimetre; it now stands at 6.24 metres.

When and where will the athletics events take place at the Paris Olympics?

The athletics events will take place from August 2 to 11 at the Stade de France, the marathons from August 10 to 11. The marathons will pass through Versailles and, contrary to tradition, the women’s marathon will close the event on August 11.

With contributions from AP