List of Olympic records in athletics explained

The modern Summer Olympic Games have been held every four years since the first Games in 1896 (except 1916 due to the First World War, 1940 and 1944 due to the Second World War, and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and Olympic records are recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in each event. The athletics events, which take place at each Games, are divided into four groups: track events (including sprints, middle- and long-distance running, hurdling and relays), field events (including javelin, discus, hammer, pole vault, long and triple jumps), road events (such as walks and the marathon) and combined events (the heptathlon and the decathlon). Women compete in 23 athletics events during the Games,[1] and men compete in 24; while 21 of the events are the same for both men and women, men exclusively compete in the 50 km walk, the women's combined event is the heptathlon while the men compete in the decathlon, and the short distance hurdles for women is contested over 100 m, ten metres shorter than the men's event.[2]

Some Olympic records have been broken but later rescinded by the IOC. In 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson broke the Olympic and World record in the 100 metres sprint, but was subsequently disqualified after it was discovered that he had used anabolic steroids to enhance his performance. His record was expunged and the gold medal was instead awarded to original silver medalist American Carl Lewis.[3] Hungarian athlete Róbert Fazekas broke the Olympic record in the men's discus in 2004 but was later stripped of both his gold medal and the record after it was deemed that he had "committed an anti-doping rule violation".[4] [5]

The longest standing modern Olympic athletics record is Bob Beamon's achievement in the men's long jump at the 1968 Summer Olympics. The jump, at 8.9abbr=onNaNabbr=on, also broke the existing world record by 55cm (22inches), and stood as the world record for 23 years until Beamon's compatriot, Mike Powell, jumped farther in the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo.[6]

Note, only those events currently competed for and recognised by the IOC as Summer Olympic events are listed.[7]

Men's records

♦ denotes a performance that is also a current world record. Statistics are correct as of August 5, 2024.

Event!class="unsortable" width=5%
RecordAthlete(s)NationGamesDateRef(s)
9.63 [8]
19.30 [9]
♦43.03 Wayde van Niekerk2016 Rio de Janeiro[10]
♦1:40.91 [11]
3:27.65 Cole Hocker[12]
12:57.82 [13]
26:43.14Joshua Cheptegei2024 Paris[14] [15]
Marathon2:06:26 Tamirat Tola[16]
12.91 [17]
♦45.94 [18]
8:03.28 [19]
♦36.84 Nesta Carter
Michael Frater
Yohan Blake
Usain Bolt		[20]
2:54.43 Christopher Bailey
Vernon Norwood
Bryce Deadmon
Rai Benjamin		[21]
1:18:46 [22]
3:36:53 [23]
High jump2.39 m [24]
Long jump8.90 m [25]
Pole vault♦6.25 m [26]
Triple jump18.09 m [27]
Shot put23.30 m [28]
Discus throw70.00 m [29]
Hammer throw84.80 m [30]
Javelin throw92.97 m [31]
Decathlon9018 pts [32]

Women's records

♦ denotes a performance that is also a current world record. Statistics are correct as of August 9, 2024.

Event!scope="col" class="unsortable" width=5%
RecordAthlete(s)NationGamesDateRef(s)
100 metres10.61 2020 Tokyo[33]
200 metres♦21.34 1988 Seoul[34] [35]
400 metres48.17 2024 Paris[36]
800 metres1:53.43 1980 Moscow[37]
1,500 metres3:51.29 2024 Paris[38]
5,000 metres14:26.17 2016 Rio de Janeiro[39]
10,000 metres29:17.45 Almaz Ayana2016 Rio de Janeiro[40]
Marathon2:22:55 2024 Paris[41]
100 metres hurdles12.262020 Tokyo[42]
400 metres hurdles♦50.372024 ParisAugust 8, 2024[43]
3,000 m steeplechase8:52.76 Winfred Yavi2024 ParisAugust 6, 2024[44]
4×100 m relay♦40.82 Tianna Madison
Allyson Felix
Bianca Knight
Carmelita Jeter		2012 London[45]
4×400 m relay♦3:15.17 
Olga Nazarova
Mariya Pinigina
Olga Bryzgina		1988 Seoul[46]
20 km walk1:25:16 2012 London[47]
High jump2.06 m 2004 Athens
Long jump7.40 m 1988 Seoul[48]
Pole vault5.05 m 2008 Beijing[49] [50]
Triple jump15.67 m 2020 Tokyo[51]
Shot put22.41 m 1980 Moscow[52]
Discus throw72.30 m 1988 Seoul
Hammer throw82.29 m 2016 Rio de Janeiro[53]
Javelin throw71.53 m 2004 Athens
Heptathlon♦7291 pts 1988 Seoul

Mixed records

♦ denotes a performance that is also a current world record. Statistics are correct as of August 7, 2024.

Event!scope="col" class="unsortable" width=5%
RecordAthlete(s)NationGamesDateRef(s)
4×400 m relay♦3:07.41 Vernon Norwood
Shamier Little
Bryce Deadmon
Kaylyn Brown		2024 Paris[54]

Combined event bests

The International Olympic Committee maintains a list of the best Olympic results in each decathlon and heptathlon discipline.[55]

Event!class="unsortable" width=5%
RecordAthlete(s)NationGamesDateRef(s)
10.12 
Long jump8.24 m 
Shot put16.97 m 
High jump2.27 m 
45.68 
13.46 
Discus throw53.91 m [56]
Pole vault5.70 m 
Javelin throw77.78 m  [57]
4:05.90 [58]
Event!class="unsortable" width=5%
RecordAthlete(s)NationGamesDateRef(s)
12.54 
High jump1.98 m 

Shot put17.31 m 
22.56 
Long jump7.27 m 
Javelin throw56.96 m 
2:03.60 

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Evolution of Olympic Women's Athletics, 1928 to the present day . 3 September 2008 . 25 July 2008 . . Mel Watman . https://web.archive.org/web/20121024101737/http://www.iaaf.org/OLY08/news/kind=100/newsid=46357.html . 24 October 2012 . live .
  2. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20090409003731/http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/disciplines_uk.asp?DiscCode=AT . 9 April 2009. Athletics . Official website of the Olympic Movement . 16 August 2011.
  3. News: 1988: Johnson stripped of Olympic gold . 3 September 2008 . . 27 September 1988 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402192224/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/27/newsid_2539000/2539525.stm . 2 April 2012 . live .
  4. News: Fazekas takes discus gold . 2 September 2008 . 23 August 2004 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20120726225320/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3591592.stm . 26 July 2012 . live .
  5. Web site: International Olympic Committee Executive Board Decision regarding Mr Robert Fazekas, born on 18 August 1975, athlete, Hungary, Men's Discus Throw . 2 September 2008 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090320005755/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_860.pdf . 20 March 2009 .
  6. News: Track and field; Back in Miami, Beamon Remains Down to Earth . . 6 September 2008 . 31 August 1991 . Gerald Eskenazi . 30 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201230011457/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/31/sports/track-and-field-back-in-miami-beamon-remains-down-to-earth.html . live .
  7. Web site: Athletics . 8 August 2012 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20120806055005/http://www.olympic.org/athletics . 6 August 2012 . live .
  8. Web site: London 2012 Olympics: Day Nine evening session . BBC Sport . 5 August 2012 . 5 August 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120805211453/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19083980 . 5 August 2012 . dmy-all .
  9. News: Bolt grabs third gold and record . . 22 August 2008 . 22 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080828040502/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7576737.stm . 28 August 2008 . live .
  10. Web site: Rio Olympics 2016: Wayde van Niekerk breaks world record to win Olympic gold. 14 August 2016. BBC Sport. 14 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815043955/http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36689353. 15 August 2016. live.
  11. Web site: 800 Metres Results. IAAF. 9 August 2012. 9 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121012045038/http://www.iaaf.org/mini/oly12/Results/ResultsByDate.aspx?racedate=08-09-2012/sex=M/discCode=800/combCode=hash/roundCode=f/results.html#detM_800_hash_f. 12 October 2012. live.
  12. Web site: 1500 Metres Result The XXXIII Olympic Games . 2024-08-11 . worldathletics.org . en.
  13. News: Bekele storms to Olympic double . . 23 August 2008 . 23 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080824064332/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/athletics/7578467.stm . 24 August 2008 . live .
  14. Web site: PARIS 2024 ATHLETICS: IN RECORD-BREAKING FINAL, UGANDA'S JOSHUA CHEPTEGEI CLINCHES GOLD WITH OLYMPIC RECORD IN MEN'S 10,000M. olympics.com. Sam Peene. 2 August 2024. 4 August 2024.
  15. Web site: Men's 10,000m Final Result. olympics.com. 2 August 2024. 4 August 2024.
  16. Web site: LetsRun.com . 2024-08-10 . A Late Injury Substitution, Tamirat Tola Conquers Paris' Hills, Wins 2024 Olympic Marathon In Spectacular 2:06:26 OR . 2024-08-10 . LetsRun.com . en.
  17. Web site: Athletics – 110m Hurdles – Progression . 29 August 2008 . Official website of the Olympic Movement . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003040919/http://www.olympic.org/sports . 3 October 2012 . live .
  18. Web site: Current Records - Men's 400m Hurdles. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803032519/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/result-men-s-400m-hurdles-fnl-000100-.htm. 3 August 2021. 3 August 2021. Official website of the Olympic Movement.
  19. Web site: Conseslus Kipruto breaks Olympic record as he wins gold. BBC Sport. 17 August 2016. 18 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817184944/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36690447. 17 August 2016. live.
  20. Web site: 4x100 Metres Relay Results. IAAF. 11 August 2012. 11 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120813174318/http://www.iaaf.org/mini/oly12/Results/ResultsByDate.aspx?racedate=08-11-2012%2Fsex%3DM%2FdiscCode%3D4X1%2FcombCode%3Dhash%2FroundCode%3Df%2Fresults.html#detM_4X1_hash_f. 13 August 2012. live.
  21. Web site: 2024-08-10 . U.S. men, women take gold in 4x400m relays . 2024-08-10 . ESPN.com . en.
  22. Web site: London 2012 20km walk results. Official website of the 2012 Summer Olympics. 4 August 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20121204182854/http://www.london2012.com/athletics/event/men-20km-walk/phase=atm092100/index.html?v=1002012080418. 4 December 2012. dmy-all.
  23. Web site: Jared Tallent finally gets his gold medal for London Olympics 50k walk. ABC News. 17 June 2016. 16 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160617042323/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-17/jared-tallent-finally-gets-his-gold-medal-ceremony/7519696. 17 June 2016. live.
  24. Web site: Athletics – High jump – Progression . 2 September 2008 . Official website of the Olympic Movement . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003040919/http://www.olympic.org/sports . 3 October 2012 . live .
  25. Web site: Beijing 2008 – Day Nine Summary – 23 Aug . 3 September 2008 . 23 August 2008 . . Parker Morse . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023234817/http://www.iaaf.org/OLY08/news/kind=100/newsid=47332.html . 23 October 2012 . live .
  26. News: Liew . Jonathan . 5 August 2024 . Duplantis achieves new heights after pole vault world record adds to gold . 6 August 2024 . . 0261-3077.
  27. Web site: Athletics – Triple jump – Progression . 2 September 2008 . Official website of the Olympic Movement . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003040919/http://www.olympic.org/sports . 3 October 2012 . live .
  28. News: Men's shot put official results (Tokyo 2020). olympics.com. 5 August 2021. 5 August 2021. 5 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805033802/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/result-men-s-shot-put-fnl-000100-.htm. dead.
  29. Web site: Men's Discus Throw Final Results Paris 2024.
  30. Web site: Athletics – Hammer throw OR – Progression . 2 September 2008 . Official website of the Olympic Movement . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003040919/http://www.olympic.org/sports . 3 October 2012 . live .
  31. Web site: Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem smashes men's javelin Olympic record. The Official Website of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 8 August 2024. 8 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240808190200/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/live-updates/5da82ce2-2eff-481e-a5f0-dc8ece3d9fe4. 8 August 2024. live.
  32. Web site: Decathlon Summary Points (Tokyo 2020) . olympics.com . 5 August 2008 . 5 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210805135709/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/summary-points-men-s-decathlon.htm . dead .
  33. Web site: Athletics Women's 100m Final Results . 31 July 2021 . 31 July 2021 . Olympics . 2 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210802225415/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/ATH/OG2020-_ATH_C73A_ATHW100M--------------FNL-000100--.pdf . dead .
  34. Web site: Athletics – 200 metres OR – Progression . Official website of the Olympic Movement . 2 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003040919/http://www.olympic.org/sports . 3 October 2012 . live .
  35. Web site: Athletics – 200 metres WR – Progression . Official website of the Olympic Movement . 2 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003040919/http://www.olympic.org/sports . 3 October 2012 . live .
  36. Web site: Women's 400m Final - Athletics Paris 2024 Olympics. IOC. 9 August 2024. 9 August 2024.
  37. Web site: Olympic Games Records – Women . 3 September 2008 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917000229/http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/recbycat/location=O/recordtype=CR/event=OLY/age=N/area=0/sex=W/records.html . 17 September 2008 . live .
  38. Web site: Women's 1500m Final - Athletics Paris 2024 Olympics. IOC. 10 August 2024. 10 August 2024.
  39. Web site: Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot wins 5000m gold. BBC Sport. 19 August 2016. 20 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820164624/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37140445. 20 August 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  40. Web site: Rio Olympics 2016: Ethiopia's Ayana smashes world record for 10,000m gold. BBC Sport. 12 August 2016. 12 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160812182108/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36687686. 12 August 2016. live.
  41. Web site: Women's Marathon - Athletics Paris 2024 Olympics. IOC. 11 August 2024. 11 August 2024.
  42. Web site: Women's 100 Metres Hurdles Results. 1 August 2021. 1 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801111501/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/result-women-s-100m-hurdles-sfnl-000300-.htm. dead.
  43. Web site: Women's 400m Hurdles Final Results .
  44. Web site: Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final Results .
  45. Web site: 4 × 100m Relay Results. IAAF. 10 August 2012. 10 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120812135653/http://www.iaaf.org/mini/oly12/Results/ResultsByDate.aspx?racedate=08-10-2012%2Fsex%3DW%2FdiscCode%3D4X1%2FcombCode%3Dhash%2FroundCode%3Df%2Fresults.html#detW_4X1_hash_f. 12 August 2012. live.
  46. Web site: Records by event – 4x400m Relay . . 3 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081017105233/http://iaaf.org/statistics/records/inout=O/discType=5/disc=4X4/detail.html . 17 October 2008 . live .
  47. Web site: 20km Race Walk Results. IAAF. 11 August 2012. 11 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121014035804/http://www.iaaf.org/mini/oly12/Results/ResultsByDate.aspx?racedate=08-11-2012/sex=W/discCode=20KR/combCode=hash/roundCode=f/results.html#detW_20KR_hash_f. 14 October 2012. live.
  48. Web site: Athletics – Long jump OR – Progression . 3 September 2008 . Official website of the Olympic Movement . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003040919/http://www.olympic.org/sports . 3 October 2012 . live .
  49. Web site: Olympic Records . The Associated Press . International Herald Tribune . 22 August 2008 . 22 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121002205854/http://global.nytimes.com/?iht . 2 October 2012 . live .
  50. News: Olympics: Isinbayeva raises the bar and the Bird's Nest roof . . 3 September 2008 . 19 August 2008 . Andy Bull . London . https://web.archive.org/web/20140107151557/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/19/olympics2008.olympicsathletics3 . 7 January 2014 . live .
  51. Web site: Women's Triple Jump Results. 1 August 2021. 1 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801120706/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/result-women-s-triple-jump-fnl-000100-.htm. dead.
  52. Web site: USA's Ryan Crouser breaks 28-year record to win shot put gold. 19 August 2016. 19 August 2016. BBC Sport. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819023107/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36690941. 19 August 2016. live.
  53. Web site: Rio Olympics 2016: Hitchon wins historic GB hammer bronze. BBC Sport. 15 August 2016. 15 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815165940/http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37087707. 15 August 2016. live.
  54. Web site: Harvey . Coley . Team USA sets new world record in 4x400m mixed relay . ESPN . 2024-08-02.
  55. Web site: Athletics Records . Olympics.com. https://archive.today/20240802171951/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/records/athletics . 2024-08-02. 2024-08-02.
  56. Web site: Canada's Damian Warner 2nd in Olympic men's decathlon with 3 events remaining . CBC . 2024-08-03 . 2024-08-03.
  57. Web site: Athletics: Niklas Kaul breaks javelin Olympic decathlon best . Olympics.com . 2024-07-24 . 2024-08-03.
  58. Web site: Men's Decathlon 1500m - Heat 1 . World Athletics . 2024-08-03.

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