Athletics

Athletics is a collection of sports events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and racewalking.

History

Athletics has a long history dating back to ancient civilizations. The Ancient Olympic Games in Greece featured events such as the stadion race, a short sprint, and the pentathlon, which included running, jumping, and throwing events. The modern form of athletics began to take shape in the 19th century with the establishment of organized competitions and the formation of governing bodies like the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now known as World Athletics.

Disciplines

Athletics is divided into several disciplines:

Track and Field

Track and field events are held on a running track and a field area. They are categorized into:

• Track events: These include sprints (e.g., 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres), middle-distance (e.g., 800 metres, 1500 metres), long-distance (e.g., 5000 metres, 10000 metres), and relay races (e.g., 4 × 100 metres relay, 4 × 400 metres relay).
• Field events: These include jumping events (e.g., long jump, high jump, triple jump, pole vault) and throwing events (e.g., shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw).

Road Running

Road running events are held on paved or asphalt roads. Common distances include the marathon (42.195 kilometers), half marathon (21.0975 kilometers), and shorter races such as 10 kilometers and 5 kilometers.

Cross Country Running

Cross country running involves racing on natural terrain, which can include grass, mud, and hills. Distances vary, but races are typically between 4 and 12 kilometers.

Racewalking

Racewalking is a long-distance discipline where athletes must maintain contact with the ground and keep their leading leg straight from the moment of first contact until it is in a vertical position. Common distances include the 20 kilometers race walk and the 50 kilometers race walk.

Major Competitions

Athletics is featured in many major international competitions, including:

• The Olympic Games
• The World Athletics Championships
• The World Athletics Indoor Championships
• The Continental Cup
• The Diamond League

Governing Bodies

The primary governing body for athletics is World Athletics, which oversees international competitions and sets the rules and standards for the sport. National governing bodies, such as USA Track & Field (USATF) and UK Athletics, manage the sport at the national level.

Training and Coaching

Athletics training varies depending on the event but generally includes a combination of strength training, endurance training, speed training, and technical training. Coaches play a crucial role in developing athletes' skills and strategies.

Notable Athletes

Some of the most famous athletes in the history of athletics include:

• Usain Bolt (Jamaica) - World record holder in the 100 meters and 200 meters.
• Carl Lewis (USA) - Multiple Olympic gold medalist in sprints and long jump.
• Paavo Nurmi (Finland) - Dominant long-distance runner in the early 20th century.
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) - Renowned heptathlete and long jumper.

See Also

• List of athletics events
• List of world records in athletics
• Athletics at the Summer Olympics
• Para-athletics

External Links

   This article is a athletics and track and field stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!