Athletics is a broad term. Track and field information for everyone. The sport of Athletics is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with millions tuning in to watch the athletes compete. Farah’s slow-burning 5000 and 10000 meter runs demonstrated an athlete’s stamina. Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic champion sprinter, was nearly unstoppable on the track.
Tokyo 2020 will be the perfect opportunity for the next great thing in athletics to show off their physical prowess while competing in the javelin. Blanka Vlasic showed remarkable flexibility in the high jumps, while Neeraj Chopra was in attendance.
Athletics is a collection of running, walking, leaping, and throwing competitions under many disciplines across a wide range of sports. See what’s on tap for the Summer Games in Sochi.
Sport of Athletics: Distance Medley (800m)
These are frequently the most talked about activities during the Olympics. Once the starting pistol goes off, eight runners rush to the finish line in separate lanes. Sprints consist of 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter dashes to the finish line, followed by 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles.
Similar to sprints, the runners must first clear a series of hurdles before crossing the finish line. It’s 13.72 meters from the starting line to the first hurdle and 9.14 meters from the following eight limitations to the finish line.
The 110m hurdles are 107cm high and easily knocked over by even the slightest touch. Athletes had to run 14.02m from the final hurdle to the finish line.
The 400-meter hurdles stand at 91.4 and 76.2 centimeters, respectively (women). The runners must clear ten hurdles spaced evenly apart before crossing the finish line.
Relays (Four 100-Meter And Four 400-Meter Runs):
Relay races, another popular event type, are included in this list. Each country often selects runners who also compete in sprint races. However, they may also choose relay specialists. Four runners from each country compete in an equal-distance race while carrying a baton.
Short, Medium, And Long Distances (Such As The 800m And 1500m Dashes):
Athletes that run the middle and long distances are built similarly to sprinters. Nevertheless, keep a reserve of energy in store for the final push. Runners in the 800m event complete two 400m track laps.
Those who want to race closer to the finish line might do so by competing for the inner lane. Once they reach the first bend, they must stay in their assigned lanes until the end. In the 1500 meter race, runners begin from a standing position and form a tight group.
The 5000-meter runners begin in a mass start and are allowed to compete. They will advance to the inner lane once they have completed the 400m track’s Twelve and a half cycles.
After a crowded start in the 10000m, runners can dive for the inside line and complete 25 400m circles of the track. As soon as the 400m track has been completed, sprint for the inside line. The best event in this division is the 3000m steeplechase.
Race Walks (20 And 50 Milers Long Distances):
Sport of Athletics race walking appears straightforward on paper, but it’s anything. In a specialized event, walkers are required to adhere to a set of rules and practices.
The 20-kilometer race walk requires participants to walk on a road course with one foot on the ground at all times. Each step forward requires the forward-moving leg to make a full 180 degrees of rotation before continuing.
If you break any of these rules three times during a race walk, you’ll be disqualified. Except for the Olympics and world championships, the 50-kilometer race walk follows the same regulations but is only open to males.
Short, Medium, And Long Distances (Such As The 800m And 1500m Dashes):
Athletes that run the middle and long distances are built similarly to sprinters. That is until they reach the first turn when they all jostle for the inside line, which is the quickest route to the finish line. Runners in the 800m event complete two 400m track laps.
In the 1500m, runners line up in a mass start and can immediately begin running to stay on the inside when running the final third of a 400m race When the 5000-meter runners get going, they form a tight group and can vie for position on the starting line.
When they have completed their 12-and-a-half 400m laps on the track, they will be released. Can dive the inside line of a bunched-up star for in the 10000m. The best event in this division is the 3000m steeplechase.
To complete a 400m track course, jumping over 28 fixed hurdles and seven water hurdles. As soon as the starting pistol sounds, everyone goes for the inside line.
Marathon:
The marathon is the Olympics’ longest race, with runners covering a road course distance of 26 miles and 385 yards. Amount of time spent in the air (High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault)
The field events follow on from the track and road races. Javelin, Discus, Hammer, and Shot Put are examples of throws. Competitors strive to throw their devices as far as possible within a range in all throwing competitions.
Because throwers must demonstrate their body strength and flexibility to succeed, most throwers have a large frame. The weapon’s point must touch down first in a 29-degree sector indicated on the ground. The weapon must weigh at least 800g and be between 2.6 and 2.7m long for men.
There are six throws allowed by the competitors, and only the furthest throw counts. Women weigh 600g and stand 2.2-2.3m taller than men. Competitors must throw from within a 2.5m diameter circle, and the discus has to land inside a defined sector.
The hammer throw includes participants tossing a metal ball attached to a grip through a steel wire. They can throw six times during the competition, and the longest throw counts. Athletes make three or four rotations around a 2.135m diameter circle before throwing the ball inside a 35-degree defined sector. Competitors can have six attempts, and the best throw counts.
In the shot put, athletes, have to ‘place’ not throw a metal ball as far as possible. The ball must weigh 7.26kg for men and 4kg for women. The shot must not dip below the line of the athlete’s shoulders during any of the six attempts.
Starting With The Four Jumps:
The high jump involves participants taking a run-up and jumping as high as they can over a four-meter-long bar. They choose to set and select to go to a more significant height without clearing the existing one. Each competitor has three attempts per height.
In the pole vault, participants dash along a runway with a pole in hand and jam. Three consecutive failures to clear the bar will result in elimination. It is down to launching oneself to clear a 4.5m long bar at the height.
However, three consecutive failures result in elimination. In the long jump, athletes sprint along a runway and propel themselves. A foul is called if an athlete propels oneself from beyond the board, and the leap is not counted.
A wooden board is placed on a sandpit, and the distance between the edge of the board and the first mark produced by the athlete on the pit is measured. (See illustration). The top eight jumpers in the final are granted three extra tries to enhance their effort in Sport of Athletics.
In the qualifying rounds and final, each jumper has three attempts, with the best attempt counted. The triple jump contains three steps the hop, step, and jump.
They initially land on their take-off foot (hop), then land on their opposite foot (step) and ultimately jump into a sandpit. Participants sprint on a runway and throw themselves from the edge of a wooden board. The rest of the rules are comparable to long jumps. The distance between the edge of the board and the first mark in the pit is measured in yards.
Combined Events (Heptathlon, Decathlon):
Finally, the two combined events consisting of both track and field are the heptathlon and decathlon. The heptathlon is a seven-event contest sport of athletics, which provides points for each event to the contestants.
The heptathlon is contested by only women, while only men challenge the decathlon. The contestants battle the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200m. The decathlon, by contrast, is a 10-event contest. On day one, compete in the long jump, javelin throw, and 800m on the day.
