In a lot of ways, Athletics embodies the motto ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ meaning faster, higher, stronger of the Olympic Games. Also known as Track and Field events, athletics is all about running faster, jumping higher and throwing further than one’s rivals.

The Olympic Games, during the time of its inception, comprised mainly of foot races. It was only occasionally that the event was made cumbersome by dressing up the runners in infantry armour or making them carry soldiers' shields.

Athletics or Track and Field still remains amongst the most riveting sporting events of Olympic Games. Athletics comprises a number of blue-ribbon events such as 100m dash, the 42.195km marathon, hammer throw and the high jump, which sees the most high profile of sportspersons competing against one another.

Athletics can be divided into four areas - track, field, road and combined events.

Track Events

The track events comprise sprints (100m, 200m, 400m), middle-distance running (800m,1500m) and long-distance running (5000m, 10,000m), hurdling (100m and 400m for women, 110m and 400m for men), relays (4 x 100m and 4 x 400m) and the 3000m steeplechase.

Field Events

The field events are for both males and females sportspersons. It comprises the long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw. It was during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games that the women's pole vault and hammer throw were introduced.

Road Events

The road events consist of the men's and women's marathons, the men's 20km and 50km race walks and the women's 10km race walk.

Combined Events

The heptathlon for women and the decathlon for men - athletes compete in a series of track and field events over two days.

Total List Of Events

1. 10000m Men
2. 100m Men
3. 110m hurdles Men
4. 1500m Men
5. 200m Men
6. 20 km walk Men
7. 3000m steeplechase Men
8. 400m Men
9. 400m hurdles Men
10. 4x100m relay Men
11. 4x400m relay Men
12. 5000m Men
13. 50 km walk Men
14. 800m Men
15. decathlon Men
16. Men Discus Throw
17. Men Hammer Throw
18. Men High Jump
19. Men Javelin Throw
20. Men Long Jump
21. marathon Men
22. pole vault Men
23. shot put Men
24. Women Triple Jump
25. Men Triple Jump
26. 10000m Women
27. 100m Women
28. 100 m hurdles Women
29. 1500m Women
30. 200m Women
31. 20km race walk Women
32. 3000m steeplechase Women
33. 400m Women
34. 400m hurdles Women
35. 4x100m relay Women
36. 4x400m relay Women
37. 5000m Women
38. 800m Women
39. Women Discus Throw
40. Women Hammer Throw
41. heptathlon Women
42. Women High Jump
43. Women Javelin Throw
44. Long jump Women
45. marathon Women
46. pole vault Women
47. shot put Women