Track and field comprises various sporting activities, including track events such as long-distance running and sprints, field events such as shot put and long jump, and combined decathlon, heptathlon, and pentathlon competitions.
Track and field are among the oldest sports disciplines, with certain events being archaic. This article will examine the long and ancient history of track and field, laying out a timeline from its origins to the present day and exploring the most popular athletes of all time.
When Did Track and Field As a Sport Begin?
Track and field’s history can be traced back to the first Olympics in 776 B.C. Although it may be considered more modest compared to the numerous events in modern track and field, ancient Greek track and field featured a single running event called the ‘stadion,’ a 200-meter race.
Over time, the number of events in these Olympic games gradually grew with each succeeding event. Disciplines added included the javelin throw and discus, amongst others. Track and field events became popular in Ancient Greece, establishing itself as a core part of sporting success in ancient times.
Despite its popularity in ancient Greece, track and field diminished after the end of the ancient Olympics. It wasn’t until the twelfth century that track and field was reestablished in England.
Seven centuries later, the first track and field championship was held in England in 1866. The event featured just male athletes and drew attention to track and field as an organized sport. A decade later, track and field was brought across the pond to the United States, with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) being formed in 1887.
The US track and field governing body, the AAU, established the sport’s popularity in the US. A decade later, track and field was included in the 1896 Olympics as a men-only event, with women first able to participate in it in 1928 during the Amsterdam Olympic Games.
From ancient origins to a resurgence in old England and into the modern day, track and field has a rich and aged history, deep-rooted in archaic competitions dating back thousands of years.
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The History of Track and Field Timeline
The history of track and field can broken down into the following timeline:
776 B.C.: Olympic Games—The first track and field event, ‘Stadion,’ was introduced in 776 B.C.
776 B.C.: 394 A.D: Track and field events grew in popularity at the Ancient Greek Olympic Games, later adopted and practiced by the Romans.
394 A.D: Roman Emperor Theodosius bans the Olympic Games and track and field events.
1100: Track and field reestablished in old England
1866: The first men’s track and field championship was held in England in 1866.
1877: The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) was created in the US, setting the foundation for track and field in the states.
1896: Track and field was introduced in the 1896 Olympics as a men’s-only event
1912: The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) was founded as an international organization for track and field.
1928: Women were allowed to compete in track and field in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
2001: IAAF changed its name to the International Association of Athletics Federations.
2019: The International Association of Athletics Federations changed its name to the World of Athletics.
Best Track and Field Athletes of all Time
Track and field has a long list of decorated athletes who are the greatest of all time in their respective disciplines. Usain Bolt is one such athlete. The current world record holder for the 100m sprint, Bolt is coined as the fastest man on earth, sprinting the distance in 9.58 seconds in 2009. Bolt also holds current world records for the 200m and 4x100m. Undoubtedly, Usain Bolt is the greatest sprinter of all time.
Allyson Felix is one of history’s greatest track and field athletes, winning 31 Olympic and World Championships medals. Decorated more than any other, Felix has won more than even some of the most celebrated athletes in track and field.
Other notable track and field legends include Carl Lewis, a mythical long jumper and 100m sprinter, and Eliud Kipchoge, a prolific long-distance runner who broke numerous records set by renowned long-distance champions.
While there may still be some debate around the greatest track and field athletes, as distinct legends have dominated their respective eras—such as 20th-century powerhouse Jesse Owens—one thing is certain: these champions have unrivalled athletic prowess and grit.
The Enduring Legacy of a Timeless Sport
The history of track and field can be traced back to ancient times. While the timeline of its roots has been turbulent due to ups and downs in popularity, track and field has become one of the most popular sports globally, loved by millions.
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