Track and field is one of the oldest sports. The first recorded ancient Olympic Games in 776 BC featured a footrace called the stadion. Modern athletics took shape in 19th-century England and became the centrepiece of the first modern Olympics in 1896.
Key dates
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 776 BC | Stadion race at the ancient Olympic Games |
| 1860s | Organised athletics meetings in England |
| 1896 | Athletics at the first modern Olympics in Athens |
| 1912 | IAAF (now World Athletics) founded |
| 1928 | Women’s athletics events added to the Olympics |
| 1983 | First World Athletics Championships |
| 2019 | IAAF renamed World Athletics |
How the sport changed
- Cinder tracks gave way to synthetic surfaces from the late 1960s.
- Electronic timing replaced hand timing.
- Fibreglass poles transformed the pole vault.
- The Fosbury Flop changed high jump technique in 1968.
- Women’s events expanded to include the steeplechase, pole vault and hammer.
Frequently asked questions
What was the first Olympic event?
The stadion, a sprint of about 190 m, in 776 BC.
What does World Athletics do?
It governs the sport worldwide, sets rules and ratifies records.
When did women first compete in Olympic athletics?
In 1928 in Amsterdam.
