Track & Field: The Purest Sport

Track and field had very humble beginnings, starting as just a single foot race, called the "stadion" race. If you're an etymology fan, you'll be happy to know this term is the root for "stadium." The race was as long as the length of the stadium, approximately 200 meters depending on the venue. In subsequent Olympic Games, these races were expanded to included a 400-meter race (approximately) and a three-mile race (again, approximately...you try validating events from the 8th century BC!). At the beginning of the modern Olympics (1896), Track and Field--also known as "athletics"--formed the backbone of the competition.

Think back to when you had to run the mile for that stupid Fitness Test in high school. How fast/slow did you run it? 7, maybe 8 minutes? Think about the treadmills at your local gym. They can usually go up to 10 miles per hour. How long could you keep that pace up? 30 seconds, maybe a couple minutes? World-class runners could finish that mile in under 4 minutes and stay on that treadmill at full speed for 5 hours!

To keep with the gym visual, think of a 15-pound free weight in your hand. Now imagine being able to throw that weight over 25 yards!

Have you ever tried dunking on a regulation basketball hoop (and failed miserably like me)? There are women who could jump over Michael Jordan and men who could jump over Yao Ming. Have you ever thought twice about jumping across that really big mud puddle? There are athletes who can jump across a whole two-lane highway without breaking a sweat.

Athletics inspires both the competitors and the spectators involved because the goals are simple but the journey is difficult. The purest sport is one that challenges your body and your mind, forcing you to become stronger both physically and mentally. Athletics also has the added benefit of providing the truest measurements of progress: faster times, farther distances, and higher heights.

Check out this video of Usain Bolt and his incredible 100M Gold Medal victory in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.

Sprinting/Running Events

100 meters
200 meters
400 meters
800 meters
1500 meters
5000 meters (also called 5K)
10000 meters (also called 10K)
4x100-meter Relay
4x400-meter Relay

Hurdle Events

100 meter High Hurdles (women)
110 meter High Hurdles (men)
400 meter Intermediate Hurdles
3000 meters Steeplechase

Jumping Events

Long Jump
Triple Jump
High Jump
Pole Vault

Throwing Events

Shot Put
Discus
Hammer
Javelin

"Multi-Events"
Due to their strenuous nature, these events are completed over two consecutive days. Multi-events are the ultimate test of Track and Field athletes--the champions of these events must possess a wide variety of athletic skills and excellent stamina. The World champions of these competitions are often recognized as the most athletic people in the world.

Heptathlon (women):
100 meter high hurdles
High Jump
Shot Put
200 meters
Long Jump
Javelin Throw
800 meters

Decathlon (men):
100 meters
Long Jump
Shot Put
High Jump
400 meters
110 meter high hurdles
Discus
Pole Vault
Javelin Throw
1500 meters