Athletics comprises a variety of running, jumping, throwing and walking events.

The sport of athletics is defined by the many events which make up its competition programmes. All events within the sport are forms of running, walking, jumping or throwing. These events are divided into the sub-sports of track and field, road running, racewalking and cross country running.

The Olympic athletics programme has played a significant role in shaping the most common events in the sport. The World Athletics Championships is the foremost World Championship event, holding the vast majority of World Championship-level events within the competition. A small number of events, such as the 60 metres, are exclusive to the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Two further, separate World Championship events are held for their specific events: the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships and the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. Cross country is one of many events which have appeared at Olympics but no longer form part of the Olympic athletics schedule. Some events, such as the mile run, remain very popular at competitions, despite having neither Olympic nor World Championship status.

Olympic and World Championship events

Current events

Event Olympic Games Outdoor Championships Indoor Championships Other World Athletics Championships Notes
Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women
60 metres 1900 – 1904 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
100 metres 1896 – Present 1928 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present
200 metres 1900 – Present 1948 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present 1985 – 2004 1985 – 2004
400 metres 1896 – Present 1964 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
800 metres 1896 – Present 1928, 1960 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
1500 metres 1896 – Present 1972 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
3000 metres 1984 – 1992 1983 – 1993 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
5000 metres 1912 – Present 1996 – Present 1983 – Present 1995 – Present
10,000 metres 1912 – Present 1988 – Present 1983 – Present 1987 – Present
4×100 metres relay 1912 – Present 1928 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present
4×400 metres relay 1912 – Present 1972 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present 1991 – Present 1991 – Present
Mixed 4×400 metres relay 2020 – Present 2019 – Present
60 metres hurdles 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
100 metres hurdles 1972 – Present 1983 – Present
110 metres hurdles 1896 – Present 1983 – Present
400 metres hurdles 1900 – Present
(except 1912)		 1984 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present
3000 metres steeplechase 1920 – Present 2008 – Present 1983 – Present 2005 – Present
Mile run
(road)		 2023 – Present 2023 – Present World Road Running Championships
5 kilometres
(road)		 2023 – Present 2023 – Present World Road Running Championships
Half-marathon (road) 1992 – Present (except 2006) 1992 – Present Held annually as the World Half-Marathon Championships until 2010 and held biennially from 2012 to 2020; part of World Road Running Championships starting in 2023; 2006 edition replaced by a 20k run
Marathon
(road)		 1896 – Present 1984 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present
20 kilometres
race walk
(road)		 1956 – Present 2000 – Present 1983 – Present 1999 – Present
35 kilometres
race walk
(road)		 2022 – Present 2022 – Present
Marathon race walk mixed relay (road) 2024 – Present 2024 – Present World Race Walking Team Championships
Cross country running 1912 – 1924 1973 – Present 1973 – Present World Athletics Cross Country Championships
Cross country running mixed relay 2017 – Present World Athletics Cross Country Championships
Pole vault 1896 – Present 2000 – Present 1983 – Present 1999 – Present 1985 – Present 1997 – Present
High jump 1896 – Present 1928 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
Long jump 1896 – Present 1948 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
Triple jump 1896 – Present 1996 – Present 1983 – Present 1993 – Present 1985 – Present 1993 – Present
Shot put 1896 – Present 1948 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present 1985 – Present 1985 – Present
Discus throw 1896 – Present 1928 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present
Hammer throw 1900 – Present 2000 – Present 1983 – Present 1999 – Present
Javelin throw 1908 – Present 1932 – Present 1983 – Present 1983 – Present
Pentathlon 1912 – 1924 1964 – 1980 1995 – Present
Heptathlon 1984 – Present 1983 – Present 1995 – Present
Decathlon 1912 – Present 1983 – Present

Former championship events

Event Olympic Games Outdoor Championships Indoor Championships Other World Athletics Championships Notes
Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women
4 × 200 metres relay 2014 – 2021 2014 – 2021
Sprint medley relay 1908
Mixed 2 × 2 × 400 metres relay 2019 – 2021 World Relay Championships
4 × 800 metres relay 2014 – 2017 2014 – 2017 World Relay Championships
Distance medley relay 2015 2015 World Relay Championships
4 × 1500 metres relay 2014 2014 World Relay Championships
3000 metres
team race		 1912 – 1924
80 metres hurdles 1932 – 1968
200 metres hurdles 1900 – 1904
Shuttle hurdle relay 2019 – 2021 World Relay Championships
3000 metres
race walk
(track)		 1985 – 1993
5000 metres
race walk
(track)		 1985 – 1993
10,000 metres race walk
(track)		 1912 – 1924,

1948 – 1952

 1992 – 1996 1987 – 1997
10 kilometres
(road)		 1983 – 1984 World Women's Road Race Championships
15 kilometres
(road)		 1985 – 1991 World Women's Road Race Championships
20 kilometres
(road)		 2006 2006 Replaced the half-marathon in 2006 only at the World Road Running Championships
50 kilometres
race walk
(road)		 1932 – 2020
(except 1976)		 1983 – 2019 2017 – 2019
Marathon relay
(road)		 1992 – 1998 1992 – 1998 World Road Relay Championships
Cross country running short race 1998 – 2006 1998 – 2006 World Cross Country Championships
Standing
high jump		 1900 – 1912
Standing
long jump		 1900 – 1912
Standing
triple jump		 1900 – 1904
56 pound
weight throw		 1904, 1920
  • NB: This list excludes Summer Olympic events which featured only once on the Olympic athletics programme during the first six editions

Other common events

Misc

See also

References

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