Welcome to the exciting world of Olympic athletics! This article is your ticket to exploring incredible achievements in running, jumping, throwing, and team events. We’ll be looking at records set by amazing athletes in Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed categories. Think of it as a journey through the fastest sprints, highest jumps, and longest throws in Olympic history. So, whether you’re a sports enthusiast or just curious about extraordinary human feats, join us as we unravel the stories behind these record-breaking moments. Get ready for a simple and fun exploration of the best performances on the grand stage of the Olympics!
Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt
Jamaica (JAM)
2012 London
August 11, 2012
4×400 m relay
2:55.39
LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, David Neville, Jeremy Wariner
United States (USA)
2008 Beijing
August 23, 2008
20 km walk
1:18:46
Chen Ding
China (CHN)
2012 London
August 4, 2012
50 km walk
3:36:53
Jared Tallent
Australia (AUS)
2012 London
August 11, 2012
High jump
2.39 m
Charles Austin
United States (USA)
1996 Atlanta
July 28, 1996
Long jump
8.90 m
Bob Beamon
United States (USA)
1968 Mexico City
October 18, 1968
Pole vault
6.03 m
Thiago Braz
Brazil (BRA)
2016 Rio
August 15, 2016
Triple jump
18.09 m
Kenny Harrison
United States (USA)
1996 Atlanta
July 27, 1996
Shot put
23.30 m
Ryan Crouser
United States (USA)
2020 Tokyo
August 5, 2021
Discus throw
69.89 m
Virgilijus Alekna
Lithuania (LTU)
2004 Athens
August 23, 2004
Hammer throw
84.80 m
Sergey Litvinov
Soviet Union (URS)
1988 Seoul
September 26, 1988
Javelin throw
90.57 m
Andreas Thorkildsen
Norway (NOR)
2008 Beijing
August 23, 2008
Decathlon
9018 pts
Damian Warner
Canada (CAN)
2020 Tokyo
August 5, 2021
Usain Bolt from Jamaica holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 100 meters with a time of 9.63 seconds, set at the 2012 London Games on August 5, 2012.
Usain Bolt from Jamaica holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 200 meters with a time of 19.30 seconds, achieved at the 2008 Beijing Games on August 20, 2008.
Wayde van Niekerk from South Africa holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 400 meters with a time of ♦43.03 seconds, established at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games on August 14, 2016.
David Rudisha from Kenya holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 800 meters with a time of ♦1:40.91, set at the 2012 London Games on August 9, 2012.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:28.32, achieved at the 2020 Tokyo Games on August 7, 2021.
Kenenisa Bekele from Ethiopia holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 12:57.82, set at the 2008 Beijing Games on August 23, 2008.
Kenenisa Bekele from Ethiopia holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 27:01.17, achieved at the 2008 Beijing Games on August 17, 2008.
Samuel Wanjiru from Kenya holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the Marathon with a time of 2:06:32, set at the 2008 Beijing Games on August 24, 2008.
Liu Xiang from China holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 110 meters hurdles with a time of 12.91 seconds, achieved at the 2004 Athens Games on August 27, 2004.
Karsten Warholm from Norway holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 400 meters hurdles with a time of ♦45.94 seconds, set at the 2020 Tokyo Games on August 3, 2021.
Conseslus Kipruto from Kenya holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 8:03.28, achieved at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games on August 17, 2016.
The Jamaican team consisting of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, and Usain Bolt holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 4x100m relay with a time of ♦36.84 seconds, set at the 2012 London Games on August 11, 2012.
The United States team, comprised of LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, David Neville, and Jeremy Wariner, holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 4x400m relay with a time of 2:55.39, set at the 2008 Beijing Games on August 23, 2008.
Chen Ding from China holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 20 km walk with a time of 1:18:46, achieved at the 2012 London Games on August 4, 2012.
Jared Tallent from Australia holds the Men’s Olympic Record in the 50 km walk with a time of 3:36:53, set at the 2012 London Games on August 11, 2012.
Charles Austin from the United States holds the Men’s Olympic Record in High Jump with a height of 2.39 meters, achieved at the 1996 Atlanta Games on July 28, 1996.
Bob Beamon from the United States holds the Men’s Olympic Record in Long Jump with a distance of 8.90 meters, set at the 1968 Mexico City Games on October 18, 1968.
Thiago Braz from Brazil holds the Men’s Olympic Record in Pole Vault with a height of 6.03 meters, set at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games on August 15, 2016.
Kenny Harrison from the United States holds the Men’s Olympic Record in Triple Jump with a distance of 18.09 meters, achieved at the 1996 Atlanta Games on July 27, 1996.
Ryan Crouser from the United States holds the Men’s Olympic Record in Shot Put with a distance of 23.30 meters, set at the 2020 Tokyo Games on August 5, 2021.
Virgilijus Alekna from Lithuania holds the Men’s Olympic Record in Discus Throw with a distance of 69.89 meters, achieved at the 2004 Athens Games on August 23, 2004.
Sergey Litvinov from the Soviet Union holds the Men’s Olympic Record in Hammer Throw with a distance of 84.80 meters, set at the 1988 Seoul Games on September 26, 1988.
Andreas Thorkildsen from Norway holds the Men’s Olympic Record in Javelin Throw with a distance of 90.57 meters, achieved at the 2008 Beijing Games on August 23, 2008.
Damian Warner from Canada holds the Men’s Olympic Record in Decathlon with a total of 9018 points, achieved at the 2020 Tokyo Games on August 5, 2021.
List of Olympic Records in Women’s Athletics Events
Tatyana Ledovskaya, Olga Nazarova, Mariya Pinigina, Olga Bryzgina
Soviet Union (URS)
1988 Seoul
October 1, 1988
20 km walk
1:25:16
Qieyang Shijie
China (CHN)
2012 London
August 11, 2012
High Jump
2.06 m
Yelena Slesarenko
Russia (RUS)
2004 Athens
August 28, 2004
Long Jump
7.40 m
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
United States (USA)
1988 Seoul
September 29, 1988
Pole Vault
5.05 m
Yelena Isinbayeva
Russia (RUS)
2008 Beijing
August 18, 2008
Triple Jump
15.67 m
Yulimar Rojas
Venezuela (VEN)
2020 Tokyo
August 1, 2021
Shot Put
22.41 m
Ilona Slupianek
East Germany (GDR)
1980 Moscow
July 24, 1980
Discus Throw
72.30 m
Martina Hellmann
East Germany (GDR)
1988 Seoul
September 29, 1988
Hammer Throw
82.29 m
Anita Włodarczyk
Poland (POL)
2016 Rio
August 15, 2016
Javelin Throw
71.53 m
Osleidys Menéndez
Cuba (CUB)
2004 Athens
August 27, 2004
Heptathlon
♦7291 pts
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
United States (USA)
1988 Seoul
September 24, 1988
Elaine Thompson Herah from Jamaica holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.61 seconds, set at the 2020 Tokyo Games on July 31, 2021.
Florence Griffith Joyner from the United States holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 200 meters with a time of ♦21.34 seconds, achieved at the 1988 Seoul Games on September 29, 1988.
Marie-José Pérec from France holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 400 meters with a time of 48.25 seconds, set at the 1996 Atlanta Games on July 29, 1996.
Nadezhda Olizarenko from the Soviet Union holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 800 meters with a time of 1:53.43, achieved at the 1980 Moscow Games on July 27, 1980.
Faith Kipyegon from Kenya holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:53.11, set at the 2020 Tokyo Games on August 6, 2021.
Vivian Cheruiyot from Kenya holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:26.17, achieved at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games on August 19, 2016.
Almaz Ayana from Ethiopia holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 29:17.45, achieved at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games on August 12, 2016.
Tiki Gelana from Ethiopia holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the Marathon with a time of 2:23:07, set at the 2012 London Games on August 5, 2012.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn from Puerto Rico holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 12.26 seconds, achieved at the 2020 Tokyo Games on August 1, 2021.
Sydney McLaughlin from the United States holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 400 meters hurdles with a time of 51.46 seconds, set at the 2020 Tokyo Games on August 4, 2021.
Gulnara Galkina-Samitova from Russia holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 8:58.81, achieved at the 2008 Beijing Games on August 17, 2008.
The United States team, comprised of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight, and Carmelita Jeter, holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 4x100m relay with a time of ♦40.82 seconds, set at the 2012 London Games on August 10, 2012.
The Soviet Union team, comprised of Tatyana Ledovskaya, Olga Nazarova, Mariya Pinigina, and Olga Bryzgina, holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 4x400m relay with a time of ♦3:15.17, set at the 1988 Seoul Games on October 1, 1988.
Qieyang Shijie from China holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the 20 km walk with a time of 1:25:16, achieved at the 2012 London Games on August 11, 2012.
Yelena Slesarenko from Russia holds the Women’s Olympic Record in High Jump with a height of 2.06 meters, set at the 2004 Athens Games on August 28, 2004.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee from the United States holds the Women’s Olympic Record in the Long Jump with a distance of 7.40 meters, set at the 1988 Seoul Games on September 29, 1988.
Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia holds the Women’s Olympic Record in Pole Vault with a height of 5.05 meters, set at the 2008 Beijing Games on August 18, 2008.
Yulimar Rojas from Venezuela holds the Women’s Olympic Record in Triple Jump with a distance of 15.67 meters, achieved at the 2020 Tokyo Games on August 1, 2021.
Ilona Slupianek from East Germany holds the Women’s Olympic Record in Shot Put with a distance of 22.41 meters, set at the 1980 Moscow Games on July 24, 1980.
Martina Hellmann from East Germany holds the Women’s Olympic Record in Discus Throw with a distance of 72.30 meters, set at the 1988 Seoul Games on September 29, 1988.
Anita Włodarczyk from Poland holds the Women’s Olympic Record in Hammer Throw with a distance of 82.29 meters, set at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games on August 15, 2016.
Osleidys Menéndez from Cuba holds the Women’s Olympic Record in Javelin Throw with a distance of 71.53 meters, set at the 2004 Athens Games on August 27, 2004.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee from the United States holds the Women’s Olympic Record in Heptathlon with a total of ♦7291 points, set at the 1988 Seoul Games on September 24, 1988.
List of Olympic Records in Mixed Athletics Events
Event
Record
Athlete(s)
Nation
Games
Date
4x400m relay
3:09.87
Karol Zalewski, Natalia Kaczmarek, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, Kajetan Duszyński
Poland (POL)
2020 Tokyo
July 31, 2021
The Mixed Olympic Record in the 4x400m relay is 3:09.87, set by the Polish team consisting of Karol Zalewski, Natalia Kaczmarek, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, and Kajetan Duszyński. This record was established at the 2020 Tokyo Games on July 31, 2021.
The athletes who contributed to the Mixed 4x400m relay record are Karol Zalewski, Natalia Kaczmarek, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, and Kajetan Duszyński from Poland.
Poland holds the Mixed Olympic Record in the 4x400m relay, with a record time of 3:09.87, achieved at the 2020 Tokyo Games on July 31, 2021.
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