The History of Track and Field

The History Of Track And Field

Track and Field events, also known as athletics, have progressed a great deal since their birth in Olympus, around the ninth century B.C. More athletes and more nationalities compete in Track and Field than in any other Olympic sport. Athletics is one of the largest attractions at the Modern Olympics, drawing in huge crowds of spectators and creating interest at summer Olympics. Track and Field events have come a long way since the Ancient Greek Olympic games. Many events and techniques have been revised, added, or eliminated since the original Greek Olympics. The Olympic motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius" is describing the Track and Field events in Latin. The Latin means " Faster (Swifter), Higher, Stronger," and indicates the running, jumping, and throwing events.

Running events were a major part of the Ancient Olympic games. The running events were said to have held the greatest ritualistic importance at the Ancient Olympics. The runners raced nude because they thought that they could run faster without the weight of their clothes. The competition started the shortest races first and worked up to the longest races. The shortest race was called a "stade" or one length of the stadium, where the first Olympic games were held. It is believed that the length of the stadium track was about 200 yards long and about 30 yards wide. The next race was a "double flute", or twice the length of the stadium. Intermediate races of no more than 1500 meters followed the short races. Records show that only one long distance race took place, a distance of just over two miles. In the data, which is available from that period, it has been shown that the number of footraces was no more than six or seven per Olympic Games. This has changed greatly in the modern Olympics. The winner of these Ancient Olympic races would be rewarded with an olive branch crown. Another type of footrace, called the hoplite, was introduced rather late in the history of the Ancient Olympics. The race was of... Running, sweating, dieting, pushing your body to its breaking point, and the season hasn't even started. This is the heart of athletes who want the glory, who want the fame, and the respect. This is what serious track athletes crave, wish and yearn for. The opportunity to make dreams become reality and competition is where it's achieved. Waiting in your starting block, waiting for the gun to go off, helplessly wondering am I going to become a champion or a failure. Before you can answer, the gun goes off. Faster and faster your heart begins to beat. Sweat begins pouring from your body, your muscles are aching and body's feeling numb. This 400m race seems like eternity. As fans cheer you on, the once