The Paris Olympics 2024 is in full swing, and Team GB has already secured its first gold medal in the team eventing competition for mountain biking and equestrian. As we gear up for the athletics events, it’s essential to understand how these events work and what to expect.
Athletics is one of the most iconic Olympic sports, with Team GB boasting a strong track record in this category. The USA is the only country that has won more medals in track and field, but Great Britain has had its fair share of memorable moments in the sport.
At the Paris Olympics 2024, there will be a total of 48 medal events in athletics, covering track, field, and road competitions. These events include sprints like the 100m, 200m, and 400m, middle-distance races like the 800m and 1500m, and long-distance events like the 5000m and 10,000m.
Field events in athletics consist of jumping and throwing competitions. Athletes will compete in high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, hammer throw, shot put, discus throw, and javelin throw. There are also combined events like the decathlon for men and the heptathlon for women.
Relays are an exciting part of the athletics schedule, with teams of four runners passing a baton to each other over a specified distance. Smooth and efficient baton exchanges are crucial in relays, as dropping the baton can lead to disqualification.
The heptathlon and decathlon are multi-event competitions that test athletes across a range of disciplines. The heptathlon includes the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin, and 800m. The decathlon features the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1500m.
One unique event in athletics is the steeplechase, which combines distance running with barriers and water jumps. Athletes must navigate 28 barriers and seven water jumps over a 3000m course, making it a challenging and exciting event to watch.
A significant change in the Paris 2024 athletics programme is the introduction of repechage rounds. In the past, athletes who didn’t qualify automatically from heats or semi-finals could still advance as “lucky losers.” Now, these athletes will have to compete in repechage rounds for a chance to move on to the next stage of the competition.
Overall, athletics at the Paris Olympics 2024 promises to be a thrilling and competitive event, with Team GB looking to add to its medal tally in this iconic sport. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the track, field, and road events throughout the games.
