Athletics

History of Athletics

Athletics is one of the oldest Olympic sports, which was contested at the very first ancient Olympic Games.

Athletics was included in the inaugural modern Olympic games at Athens 1896. For men, the Olympic programme has remained unchanged, with the addition of the 20km race walk which was included at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic games.

Women’s events were introduced at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games. The 17 women’s events remained until 1992. In 2008, the 3000m steeplechase resulting in equal number of events as males.

New Zealand Athletics

New Zealand first competed as a part of an Australasian team at London 1908 Olympic Games, the team included 3 New Zealanders.

New Zealand Athletics has featured in all 25 editions of the Olympic Games.

Harry Kerr OLY#1 was New Zealand’s first Olympian, joined by Henry Murray OLY#2 and Albert Rowland OLY#3 at the London 1908 games.

The first female was Norma Wilson OLY#23 at Amsterdam 1928, 100m women.

The first New Zealand Team medal was bronze, won by Harry Kerr OLY#1 in the 3500m walk at the London 1908 games. Whilst Harry was part of the Australasian team, this was New Zealand’s first Olympic medal.

Dame Valerie Adams OLY#874 is the most decorated athlete with four medals (2 Gold, Silver and Bronze) in shot put.

Sir Peter Snell OLY#151 is the most decorated male athlete with 3 gold medals (800m x 2, 1500m)

What you can expect

On the track, you can enjoy everything from the breathless excitement of the 100m sprint to the lung-busting intensity of the 10,000m, while the action will also hit the streets for the ultimate test of endurance, the marathon.

On the field, throwers of javelins, hammers, the discus and the shot will look to go the distance in their own battles for supremacy, while athletes will make a leap for a podium place in the long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault.

If that isn't enough, the multi-event decathlon and heptathlon see athletes looking to emerge victorious from a range of events, testing their capabilities to the very limit.