Athletics - FAQs

1. What distance does an athletics track cover?

The track is oval in shape and covers a distance of 400m. There is also a 100m dash for organizing 100m races. There are eight lanes on the track.

2. Which sports are included in the field events in athletics?

Field athletics include two types of events which are jumping and throwing. Here are the sports included in both of them −

Jumping events

Pole Vault
Triple Jump
High Jump
Long Jump

Throwing Events

Hammer Throw
Discus Throw
Javelin Throw
Shot Put

3. Which athlete receives the highest payment?

The athlete who receives the highest payment is Usain Bolt who currently has a worth of more than $30 million.

4. Which athlete is the winner of many medals?

The winners of most medals won by different athletes can be found in the table below −

Athlete	Country	Gold	Silver
Paavo Nurmi	Finland	9	6
Carl Lewis	USA	9	1
Usain Bolt	Jamaica	8	0
Ray Jumper	USA	8	0
Allyson Felix	USA	6	3

5. Are athletes paid for their participation?

No! Athletes are not paid for their participation through prize money. Their income comes through sponsorships, endorsement, and other types of outdoor revenue streams.

6. Are shoes required for running?

Yes! Shoes with spikes are required for running. These shoes should be of high quality. If athletes will use shoes of low quality, it will cause discomfort while running.

7. How many false starts are allowed while running?

If an athlete false starts three times, he or she is disqualified.

8. Can races be re-run?

If an athlete falls in a long-distance event by contacting with other athletes, the gun is fired again. This does not happen if an athlete slips.

9. Are runners allowed to wear watches while running?

Yes! Runners can wear watches while running.

10. What is the difference between starting blocks, sprint blocks, and running blocks?

These blocks are similar and athletes use different names. The starting blocks are used by athletes to get support when the race is starting. These blocks prevent slipping when the race is started.

11. In which race starting blocks are used?

Starting blocks are used in all the races including relay races.

12. What distances are covered in sprint races?

Sprint Races are of short distances which include 100m, 200m, and 400m distance.

13. In which year women start participating in high jump?

The participation of women in the high jump was started in 1928 at the Amsterdam Olympics.

14. Which foot should be used for takeoff?

Athletes can use any foot for takeoff. Only one foot should be used.

15. In how many parts high jump field is divided?

The high jump field is divided into three parts. The first part is the runway where athletes have to run. The second is the crossbar located on an upright. The third is the mat where athletes fall after the jump is complete.

16. When does the event start?

The event starts after the chief judge puts the bar on the upright. The height of the bar is increased gradually.

17. How many times can an athlete attempt to clear a height?

An athlete is given three chances to clear a height. The athlete will have the option of skipping only a single height and going for the next one.

18. In which year triple jump was included in the Olympics?

Triple Jump was included in the Olympics in 1896.

19. What are the steps in the triple jump?

The steps used in the triple jump are hop, skip, and jump.

20. In which year triple jump was added as a women's event in the Olympics?

Triple jump was added as a women's event in the Olympics in 1996.

21. Who holds the record for the highest vault in the pole vault event?

Renaud Lavillenie made a record of 6.16m in 2014.

22. In which year pole vault was added to the Olympics for men and women?

Pole vault was added for men in 1896 and for women in 2000.

23. How many chances does an athlete get to achieve the given height?

An athlete gets three chances to achieve the given height. On failure, the athlete is disqualified.

24. In which year discus throw event was added for men and women in the Olympics?

Discus throw for men was added in 1896 and for women in 1928. Besides the Olympics, the discus throw is also added in the decathlon.

25. What is the weight of the discus for men and women?

The weight of the discus for men is 2kg and for women 1kg.

26. What is the diameter of the circle from where discus is thrown?

The diameter of the circle is 2.5m.

27. When does a throw is considered as a foul throw?

If an athlete crosses the circle before the discus reaches the destination, it is termed as a foul throw.

28. Which country is most successful in Shotput?

The USA is the most successful country as it won gold in every competition held between 1896 and 1968.

29. Which material is used to make the shot?

Brass or iron is used to make the shot.

30. What is the length and weight of the Javelin for men and women?

The length of a Javelin for men is 260cm and weight is 800g. In the case of women, the length of the javelin is 220cm and weight is 600g.

31. Which country holds the most records in Javelin throw?

Most of the records regarding javelin throw belong to Sweden and Finland.

32. What are the different parts of a javelin?

The three parts of a javelin are a head, a shaft, and a cord grip. The main body of the javelin is a shaft which is made by using a metal or any other material. The shaft does not have any grooves, holes, or ridges, and also it is not rough. The head of the javelin is its front portion which is pointed. The center of the javelin is fixed with a cord grip.

33. In which year hammer throw become a part of the Olympics for males and females?

Hammer Throw made its debut for males in 1900 and for females in 2000.

34. How many turns does an athlete have to make before making a throw?

An athlete has to make three turns before making a throw.

35. What is the weight of the hammer for males and females?

The weight of the hammer for males is 7.26kg and for females, it is 4kg.

36. Which games are added in Decathlon?

The games added to the decathlon are as follows −

100m dash
Long jump
Shot put
High jump
400m run
110m hurdles
Discus throw
Pole vault
Javelin throw
1500m run

The first five are arranged on the first day and the remaining five on the second day.

37. When was the Decathlon debuted in the Olympics?

Decathlon debuted in the Olympics in 1912.

38. In which year heptathlon was introduced for women?

Heptathlon was introduced for women in 1984 Summer Olympics.