About
Track and field athletics encompasses the sprint, middle distance, long distance, hurdles, jumps, and throws — sports that test human speed, strength, and endurance in their purest forms. The 100m sprint is sport's glamor event — the world's fastest human. The marathon (42.195 km) honors Pheidippides's legendary run from Marathon to Athens in 490 BCE.
Usain Bolt's 9.58-second 100m world record (2009) and 19.19-second 200m record remain unbroken. Eliud Kipchoge became the first to run a marathon under 2 hours (1:59:40 in 2019, unofficial). Pole vault, high jump, triple jump, and decathlon produce athletes of extraordinary all-around ability. Athletics is the backbone of the Olympic program.
# Top 10 Athletics Track facts
- 1Usain Bolt's 100m world record of 9.58 seconds has stood since 2009 — he was 22 at the time
- 2Eliud Kipchoge ran a marathon in 1:59:40 in 2019 — breaking 2 hours for the first time in history
- 3The decathlon is 10 events over 2 days — its champion is traditionally called 'the world's greatest athlete'
Fascinating Facts
- ◆Usain Bolt's 100m world record of 9.58 seconds has stood since 2009 — he was 22 at the time
- ◆Eliud Kipchoge ran a marathon in 1:59:40 in 2019 — breaking 2 hours for the first time in history
- ◆The decathlon is 10 events over 2 days — its champion is traditionally called 'the world's greatest athlete'
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