For centuries, track & field has constantly been one of the most popular sports in the world. While the first track & field competition took place as early as 776 BC, the sport as we know it has existed since the late 1800s.

Photo: Olavi Kaljunen / Trackpic
Usain Bolt (7).
Track & Field – History
Track & field is one of the most highly regarded sports globally, as it is practised all over the world. The world federation of track & field is called World Athletics, formerly known as IAAF. The federation has 214 member states.
Many of today's track & field disciplines were already present when the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. Those games also served as a starting point for the establishment and wider awareness of the sport. The founding of IAAF at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 was a remarkable step forward in the internalisation of track & field. This era also marked the creation of a more precise set of rules for track & field, and began the listing of world records.
Year 1921 was noteworthy for equality, as it was the first time women were allowed to compete in track & field. The first Olympics with female contestants took place in 1928, though women only participated in a handful of disciplines that time. In addition to women, professional athletes were not seen in the Games until 1970, when they were finally granted access to the Olympics.
During the next few decades, track & field spread globally, with various nations participating in international elite games. For example, the first Olympic level participation of the great power Soviet Union took place in Helsinki in 1952. Unfortunately, political conflicts, such as the Cold War, also affected track & field, with implications as to which nations could participate in elite games.
The first
European Championships in track & field were organised as early as 1934, while the first
World Championships were not arranged until 1983. This marked the starting point of organising track & field championship games nearly every year.

Photo: Olavi Kaljunen / Trackpic
Women heptathlonists at the London Olympic Stadium.
Athletics calendar - Competition schedule
Here you can find the calendar for the main athletics events held around the world.
NOTE! All the times in the calendar are Central European Time (CET), UTC +1.
Calendar Athletics
19.6.2021 - 20.6.2021 | Joukkue EM-kisat Ykkösliiga | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
20.2.2022 | Sir Graeme Douglas International (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Douglas Track & Field, Auckland (NZL) |
26.2.2022 | International Track Meet (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub, Christchurch (NZL) |
12.3.2022 | Sydney Track Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | SOPAC, Sydney (AUS) |
19.3.2022 | Melbourne Track Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne (AUS) |
27.3.2022 | Grand Prix International CAA de Douala (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Stade de la Réunification de Bepanda, Douala (CMR) |
9.4.2022 | USATF Bermuda Games (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | National Sports Centre, Devonshire (BER) |
9.4.2022 | Brisbane Track Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | QSAC, Nathan, Brisbane (AUS) |
16.4.2022 | USATF Golden Games (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, CA (USA) |
27.4.2022 - 30.4.2022 | Drake Relays (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Drake Stadium, Des Moines, IA (USA) |
28.4.2022 - 30.4.2022 | The Penn Relays Carnival (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Franklin Field, Philadelphia, PA (USA) |
29.4.2022 | Mikio Oda Memorial Athletics Meet (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Municipal Stadium, Hiroshima (JPN) |
30.4.2022 | Gaborone International Meet (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | National Stadium, Gaborone (BOT) |
30.4.2022 - 1.5.2022 | Kinami Michitaka Memorial Meet (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka (JPN) |
1.5.2022 | Grande Premio Internacional Brasil Loterias Caixa de Atletismo (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | COTP Stadium, São Paulo (BRA) |
3.5.2022 | Shizuoka International Athletics Meet (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Prefectural Shizuoka Stadium, Fukuroi (JPN) |
6.5.2022 | Track Meet (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, CA (USA) |
7.5.2022 | Kip Keino Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi (KEN) |
7.5.2022 | The Orange County Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, CA (USA) |
8.5.2022 | Seiko Golden Grand Prix (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | National Stadium, Tokyo (JPN) |
12.5.2022 | Puerto Rico International Athletics Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Estadio Francisco Montaner, Ponce (PUR) |
13.5.2022 | Diamond League Doha | Qatar |
14.5.2022 | Felix Sánchez Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Estadio Luguelín Santos, Santo Domingo (DOM) |
19.5.2022 | USATF Distance Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, CA (USA) |
20.5.2022 | Track Night NYC (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Icahn Stadium, New York, NY (USA) |
21.5.2022 | Diamond League Birmingham | Great Britain |
21.5.2022 | USATF Throws Fest (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Univ. of Arizona Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, AZ (USA) |
21.5.2022 | Duval County Challenge (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Jax Track at Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, FL (USA) |
25.5.2022 | Motonet GP Lahti | Lahti, Finland |
25.5.2022 | "24. Internationales Leichtathletik Meeting ""Anhalt 2022""" (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Paul-Greifzu-Stadion, Dessau (GER) |
25.5.2022 | "International Jumping Meeting ""Filahtlitikos Kallithea""" (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Kallithea, Athina (GRE) |
25.5.2022 | Meeting Iberoamericano (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Estadio Iberoamericano, Huelva (ESP) |
26.5.2022 | Kultainen Keihäs | Vantaa, Finland |
27.5.2022 | Pozna? Athletics Grand Prix (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Gol?cin Stadion, Poznan (POL) |
28.5.2022 - 29.5.2022 | Diamond League Eugene | USA |
29.5.2022 | Venizelia - Chania International Meeting (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Elena Venizelou National Stadium, Chania (GRE) |
31.5.2022 | Ostrava Golden Spike (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Mestský Stadion, Ostrava (CZE) |
1.6.2022 | Motonet GP Tampere | Tampere, Finland |
1.6.2022 | Filothei Women Gala (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Filothei Stadium, Athina (GRE) |
2.6.2022 | Montreuil International Meeting (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Stade des Grands Pêchers, Montreuil (FRA) |
2.6.2022 | Austrian Open (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Leichtathletikarena, Eisenstadt (AUT) |
2.6.2022 | Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Konstantinos Baglatzis Municipal Stadium, Vari (GRE) |
2.6.2022 | Jessheim 1500m Elite (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Friidrettsstadion, Jessheim (NOR) |
3.6.2022 | Irena Szewinska Memorial (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak Stadium, Bydgoszcz (POL) |
3.6.2022 | BoXX United Manchester World Athletics Continental Tour (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Manchester Regional Arena, Manchester (GBR) |
4.6.2022 | Meeting Jaen Paraiso Interior (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Polideportivo Municipal, Andújar (ESP) |
5.6.2022 | Diamond League Rabat | Morocco |
5.6.2022 | ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Stadion Śląski, Chorzów (POL) |
5.6.2022 | Music City Track Carnival Festival (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Vanderbilt Track, Nashville, TN (USA) |
5.6.2022 | 57th International Pentecost Sport Meeting Rehlingen (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Bungertstadion, Rehlingen (GER) |
6.6.2022 | FBK Games (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Blankers-Koen Stadion, Hengelo (NED) |
6.6.2022 | Memorial Josef Odloila (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Stadion Juliska, Praha (CZE) |
8.6.2022 | Motonet GP Espoo | Espoo, Finland |
8.6.2022 - 9.6.2022 | P-T-S meeting 2022 (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | x-bionic sphere, amorín (SVK) |
8.6.2022 | Trond Mohn Games (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Fana Stadion, Bergen (NOR) |
9.6.2022 | Diamond League Rome | Italy |
11.6.2022 | ATLETICAGENEVE - EAP (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Centre sportif Bout-du-Monde, Genève (SUI) |
12.6.2022 | New York Grand Prix (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Icahn Stadium, New York, NY (USA) |
12.6.2022 | Sollentuna GP (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Sollentunavallen, Sollentuna (SWE) |
14.6.2022 | Paavo Nurmi Games (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Paavo Nurmi Stadium, Turku (FIN) |
14.6.2022 | CITIUS Meeting (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Stadion Wankdorf, Bern (SUI) |
14.6.2022 | Kladno hází a Kladenské memoriály 2022 (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Mestský Stadion Sletite, Kladno (CZE) |
14.6.2022 | Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby (CAN) |
16.6.2022 | Diamond League Oslo | Oslo, Norway |
16.6.2022 | Copenhagen Athletics Games (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Østerbro Stadion, København (DEN) |
18.6.2022 | Diamond League Paris | Paris, France |
18.6.2022 | Meeting Madrid (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Estadio Vallehermoso, Madrid (ESP) |
18.6.2022 | Kuortane Games (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Kuortaneen keskusurheilukenttä, Kuortane (FIN) |
25.6.2022 | Meeting de Dakar (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Dakar (SEN) |
25.6.2022 - 26.6.2022 | XXXII Qosanov Memorial (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Nur-Sultan (KAZ) |
29.6.2022 | Meeting International d'Athlétisme de la Province de Liège (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Stade Naimette-Xhovémont, Liège (BEL) |
30.6.2022 | Diamond League Stockholm | Stockholm, Sweden |
30.6.2022 | Boysen Memorial (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
2.7.2022 | Meeting Stanislas Nancy (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Stade Raymond Petit, Tomblaine (FRA) |
2.7.2022 | Night of Athletics (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Stadion De Veen, Heusden-Zolder (BEL) |
2.7.2022 | Stars and Stripes Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Marietta, GA (USA) |
3.7.2022 | 2022 Pre World Championships Invitational (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Foote Field, Edmonton (CAN) |
3.7.2022 | Karlstad GP (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Tingvalla IP, Karlstad (SWE) |
4.7.2022 - 7.7.2022 | U18 European Athletics Championships | Jerusalem, Israel |
4.7.2022 | Meeting International de Sotteville 2022 (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Stade Sottevillais 76, Sotteville-lès-Rouen (FRA) |
5.7.2022 | Cork City Sports (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Munster Technological University Track, Cork (IRL) |
9.7.2022 | Sunset Tour - Occidental College (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Bill Henry Track, Los Angeles, CA (USA) |
15.7.2022 - 24.7.2022 | World Championships | Eugene, USA |
26.7.2022 | Motonet GP Jyväskylä | Jyväskylä, Finland |
30.7.2022 | Murphey Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Billy J. Murphy Track and Field Complex, Memphis, TN (USA) |
30.7.2022 | Gothenburg Athletics GP (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Slottsskogsvallen, Göteborg (SWE) |
1.8.2022 - 6.8.2022 | U20 World Athletics Championships | Santiago de Cali, Kolumbia |
4.8.2022 - 7.8.2022 | Kalevan Kisat | Joensuu, Finland |
6.8.2022 | Diamond League Chorzow | Chorzow, Poland |
8.8.2022 | Gyulai István Memorial - Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Bregyó Athletic Center, Székesfehérvár (HUN) |
10.8.2022 | Diamond League Monaco | Monaco, Monaco |
15.8.2022 - 21.8.2022 | European Athletics Championships | München, Germany |
24.8.2022 | Motonet GP Lappeenranta | Lappeenranta, Finland |
26.8.2022 | Diamond League Lausanne | Lausanne, Switzerland |
28.8.2022 | #True Athletes Classics (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Stadion Manfort, Leverkusen (GER) |
30.8.2022 | 58. Palio Città della Quercia (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Stadio Quercia, Rovereto (ITA) |
30.8.2022 | Spitzen Leichtathletik (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Stadion Allmend, Luzern (SUI) |
2.9.2022 | Diamond League Brussels | Brussels, Belgium |
2.9.2022 | Hungarian GP Series - Budapest (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Lantos Mihály Sportközpont, Budapest (HUN) |
3.9.2022 - 4.9.2022 | Suomi-Ruotsi-maaottelu | Helsinki, Finland |
4.9.2022 | ISTAF 2022 (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER) |
4.9.2022 | XXXV Meeting Città di Padova (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Stadio Colbachini, Padova (ITA) |
6.9.2022 | Hungarian GP Series - Győr (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Olimpiai Sportpark, Győr (HUN) |
7.9.2022 - 8.9.2022 | Diamond League Zürich | Zürich, Switzerland |
11.9.2022 | Memorial Borisa Hanžekovića (World Athletics Continental Tour Gold) | Sports Park Mladost, Zagreb (CRO) |
12.9.2022 | Gala dei Castelli (World Athletics Continental Tour Silver) | Stadio Comunale, Bellinzona (SUI) |
2.10.2022 | Athletics Challenge (World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze) | Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata (JPN) |
Athletics – Results today
Here you can find the results of the latest main international events as well as live results links to the competitions.
Athletics – World Records
Outdoors
Men – Outdoors
Discipline | Athlete | Result | Date |
100 m | Usain Bolt | 9,58 | 16.8.2009 |
200 m | Usain Bolt | 19,19 | 20.8.2009 |
400 m | Wayde van Niekerk | 43,03 | 14.8.2006 |
800 m | David Rudisha | 1.40,91 | 9.8.2012 |
1500 m | Hicham El Guerrouj | 3.26,00 | 14.7.1998 |
Mile | Hicham El Guerrouj | 3.43,13 | 7.7.1999 |
3000 m | Daniel Komen | 7.20,67 | 1.9.1996 |
5000 m | Joshua Cheptegei | 12.35,36 | 14.8.2020 |
10 000 m | Kenenisa Bekele | 26.17,53 | 26.8.2005 |
3000 m steeple. | Saif Saaeed Shaheen | 7.53,63 | 3.9.2004 |
Half marathon | Geoffrey Kamworor | 58.01 | 15.9.2019 |
Marathon | Eliud Kipchoge | 2.01.39 | 16.9.2018 |
110 m hurdles | Aries Merritt | 12,80 | 7.9.2012 |
400 m hurdles | Keving Young | 46,78 | 6.8.1992 |
Long jump | Mike Powell | 895 | 30.8.1991 |
High jump | Javier Sotomayor | 245 | 27.7.1993 |
Triple jump | Jonathan Edwards | 18,29 | 7.8.1995 |
Pole vault | Renaud Lavillenie | 616 | 15.2.2014 |
Javelin | Jan Zelezny | 98,48 | 25.5.1996 |
Shot put | Randy Barnes | 23,12 | 20.5.1990 |
Discus throw | Jürgen Schult | 74,08 | 6.6.1986 |
Hammer throw | Juri Sedyh | 86,74 | 30.8.1986 |
Decathlon | Kevin Mayer | 9126 | 15-16.9.2018 |
4x 100 m | Jamaika | 36,84 | 11.8.2012 |
4 x 400 m | USA | 2.54,29 | 22.8.1993 |
Women – Outdoors
Discipline | Athlete | Result | Date |
100 m | Florence Griffith‑Joyner | 10,49 | 16.7.1988 |
200 m | Florence Griffith‑Joyner | 21,34 | 29.9.1988 |
400 m | Marita Koch | 47,60 | 6.10.1985 |
800 m | Jarmila Kratochvílová | 1.53,28 | 26.7.1983 |
1500 m | Genzebe Dibabaj | 3.50,07 | 17.7.2015 |
Mile | Sifan Hassan | 4.12,33 | 12.7.2019 |
3000 m | Wang Junxia | 8.06,11 | 13.9.1993 |
5000 m | Tirunesh Dibaba | 14.11,15 | 6.6.2008 |
10 000 m | Almaz Ayana | 29.17,45 | 12.8.2016 |
3000 m steeple | Beatrice Chepkoech | 8.44,32 | 20.7.2018 |
Half marathon | Joyciline Jepkosgei | 64.51 | 22.10.2017 |
Marathon | Paula Radcliffe | 2.15.25 | 13.4.2003 |
100 m hurdles | Kendra Harrison | 12,20 | 22.7.2016 |
400 m hurdles | Dalilah Muhammad | 52,16 | 4.10.2019 |
Long jump | Galina Tšistjakova | 752 | 11.6.1988 |
High jump | Stefka Kostadinova | 209 | 30.8.1987 |
Triple jump | Inessa Kravets | 15,50 | 10.8.1995 |
Pole vault | Jelena Isinbajeva | 506 | 28.8.2009 |
Javelin throw | Barbora Špotákova | 72,28 | 13.9.2008 |
Shot put | Natalja Lisovskaja | 22,63 | 7.6.1987 |
Discus throw | Gabriele Reinsch | 76,80 | 9.7.1988 |
Hammer throw | Anita Włodarczyk | 82,98 | 28.8.2016 |
Heptathlon | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | 7291 | 23.-24.9.1988 |
4x 100 m | Yhdysvallat | 40,82 | 10.8.2012 |
4 x 400 m | Neuvostoliitto | 3.15,17 | 1.10.1988 |
Indoors
Men – Indoors
Discipline | Athlete | Result | Date |
60 m | Christian Coleman | 6,34 | 18. Feb 2018 |
200 m | Frankie Fredericks | 19,92 | 18. Feb 1996 |
400 m | Kerron Clement | 44,57 | 12. March 2005 |
800 m | Wilson Kipketer | 1:42,67 | 9. March 1997 |
1000 m | Ayanleh Souleiman | 2:14,20 | 17. Feb 2016 |
1500 m | Samuel Tefera | 3:31,04 | 16. Feb 2019 |
Mile | Yomif Kejelcha | 3:47,01 | 3. March 2019 |
3000 m | Daniel Komen | 7:24,90 | 6. Feb 1998 |
5000 m | Kenenisa Bekele | 12:49,60 | 20. Feb 2004 |
60 m hurdles | Colin Jackson | 7,30 | 6. March 1994 |
High jump | Javier Sotomayor | 243 | 4. March 1989 |
Pole vault | Armand Duplantis | 618 | 15. Feb 2020 |
Long jump | Carl Lewis | 879 | 27. Jan 1984 |
Triple jump | Teddy Tamgho | 17,92 | 6. March 2011 |
Shot put | Randy Barnes | 22,66 | 20. Jan 1989 |
Heptathlon | Ashton Eaton | 6645 pts | 10. March 2012 |
Women – Indoors
Discipline | Athlete | Result | Date |
60 m | Irina Privalova | 6,92 | 11. Feb 1993 |
200 m | Merlene Ottey | 21,87 | 13. Feb 1993 |
400 m | Jarmila Kratochvílová | 49,59 | 7. March 1982 |
800 m | Jolanda Čeplak | 1:55,82 | 3. March 2002 |
1000 m | Maria Mutola | 2.30,94 | 25. Feb 1999 |
1500 m | Genzebe Dibaba | 3.55,17 | 1. Feb 2014 |
Mile | Genzebe Dibaba | 4.13,31 | 17. Feb 2016 |
3000 m | Genzebe Dibaba | 8.16,60 | 6. Feb 2014 |
5000 m | Genzebe Dibaba | 14.18,86 | 19. Feb 2015 |
60 m hurdles | Susanna Kallur | 7,68 | 10. Feb 2008 |
High jump | Kajsa Bergqvist | 208 | 4. Feb 2006 |
Pole vault | Jenn Suhr | 503 | 30. Jan 2016 |
Long jump | Heike Drechsler | 737 | 13. Feb 1988 |
Triple jump | Yulimar Rojas | 15,43 | 21. Feb 2020 |
Shot put | Helena Fibingerová | 22,50 | 19. Feb 1977 |
Pentathlon | Nataliya Dobrynska | 5013 pts | 9. March 2012 |