Athletics at Tokyo 2020
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Imperial Palace Garden (race walks)
Competition Dates: July 30-August 8, 2021 (Days 7-16)
Events: 48 (24 men, 23 women, 1 mixed)
National Federation: Athletics Canada
International Federation: International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
The 48 athletics events are the most of any sport on the Olympic program. All are contested separately by men and women except where noted. The events can be divided into five groups:
* Track events (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, 110m hurdles – men, 100m hurdles – women, 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay)
* Throwing events (shot put, discus, hammer, javelin)
* Jumping events (high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump)
* Combined events (decathlon – men, heptathlon – women)
* Road events (marathon, 20km race walk, 50km race walk – men)
New at Tokyo 2020 will be a 4x400m mixed relay in which teams are composed of two men and two women.
On the track, all events 1500m and shorter include three rounds of competition (heats, semifinals, final). The 5000m, steeplechase, and relays are two rounds (heats, final) while the 10,000m is just one race.
In the throwing events, only the best attempt is counted for each athlete. After three attempts in a qualification round, the top 12 advance to the final where following their first three attempts, the top eight receive three more attempts to improve their placement.
In high jump and pole vault, athletes can enter the competition at any height and pass on any height, but three consecutive failures leads to elimination until one athlete remains. In long jump and triple jump, only the best attempt is counted for each athlete. After three attempts in a qualification round, the top 12 advance to the final where, following their first three attempts, the top eight receive three more attempts to improve their placement.
In the combined events, athletes are awarded points which correlate to the times/measurements achieved in each event. The decathlon is 10 events (100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500m) while the heptathlon is seven events (100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin, 800m), both held over two days.
The road events are all mass starts. In the race walks, athletes must always have one foot in contact with the ground and completely straighten their leg on each stride. Three violations leads to disqualification.
Canada’s Olympic History (Pre-Tokyo 2020)
With 60 Olympic medals, Canada has won more medals in athletics than in any other sport. Canada won six athletics medals at Rio 2016, the country’s best total since the nine won at Los Angeles 1932.
In Rio, Derek Drouin became Canada’s first Olympic champion in a field event since 1932, winning gold with a clean sheet, just the sixth high jumper to ever do so in Olympic history. It was Canada’s fourth ever men’s high jump medal, following Greg Joy’s silver at Montreal 1976, Duncan McNaughton’s gold at Los Angeles 1932, and Drouin’s own bronze at London 2012, where he was part of a three-way tie for bronze. Andre De Grasse became the first Canadian track athlete to ever win three sprint medals, taking silver in the 200m and bronze in both the 100m and 4x100m relay. Canada was also the only country to win medals in both combined events, as Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Damian Warner won bronze in the heptathlon and decathlon, respectively.
There was a pair of bronze medals at Beijing 2008 as Priscilla Lopes-Schliep won Canada’s first Olympic medal on the track since Atlanta 1996, where Donovan Bailey became the “world’s fastest man” by winning the 100m gold in world record time and then anchored the 4x100m relay team to gold. Dylan Armstrong captured Canada’s first Olympic throwing medal since Stockholm 1912 when Duncan Gillis won hammer throw silver.
The most medals won by a single athlete is the five bronzes that Phil Edwards earned from 1928 to 1936.
Amsterdam 1928 stands out as perhaps Canada’s greatest Olympic Games in athletics. Women competed in athletics for the first time, leading to the first female members of a summer Canadian Olympic Team. They won four medals, including gold in the high jump by Ethel Catherwood and the 4x100m relay. Percy Williams is the star of the sprints, becoming the only Canadian to achieve double gold in the 100m and 200m.
Canada’s first ever Olympic medals came in athletics thanks to George Orton, who won 2500m steeplechase gold and 400m hurdles bronze in the span of an hour at Paris 1900.
Stats:
Event | Athlete | Finish | Games |
---|---|---|---|
Steeplechase 2500m - Men | George Orton | Gold | 1900 Paris |
Weight Throw 56lb - Men | Étienne Desmarteau | Gold | 1904 St. Louis |
200m - Men | Robert Kerr | Gold | 1908 London |
Race Walk 10km - Men | George Goulding | Gold | 1912 Stockholm |
Hurdles 110m - Men | Earl Thomson | Gold | 1920 Antwerp |
100m - Men | Percy Williams | Gold | 1928 Amsterdam |
200m - Men | Percy Williams | Gold | 1928 Amsterdam |
Relay 4x100m - Women | Ethel Smith, Fanny "Bobbie" Rosenfeld, Jane Bell, Myrtle Cook | Gold | 1928 Amsterdam |
High Jump - Women | Ethel Catherwood | Gold | 1928 Amsterdam |
High Jump - Men | Duncan McNaughton | Gold | 1932 Los Angeles |
Hurdles 110m - Men | Mark McKoy | Gold | 1992 Barcelona |
100m - Men | Donovan Bailey | Gold | 1996 Atlanta |
Relay 4x100m - Men | Bruny Surin, Carlton Chambers, Donovan Bailey, Glenroy Gilbert, Robert Esmie | Gold | 1996 Atlanta |
High Jump - Men | Derek Drouin | Gold | 2016 Rio |
Triple Jump - Men | J. Garfield MacDonald | Silver | 1908 London |
Hammer Throw - Men | Duncan Gillis | Silver | 1912 Stockholm |
Long Jump - Men | Calvin Bricker | Silver | 1912 Stockholm |
100m - Women | Fanny "Bobbie" Rosenfeld | Silver | 1928 Amsterdam |
400m - Men | James Ball | Silver | 1928 Amsterdam |
100m - Women | Hilda Strike | Silver | 1932 Los Angeles |
Relay 4x100m - Women | Hilda Strike, Lillian Alderson, Mary Frizzell, Mildred Frizzell | Silver | 1932 Los Angeles |
800m - Men | Alex Wilson | Silver | 1932 Los Angeles |
Hurdles 400m - Men | John Loaring | Silver | 1936 Berlin |
800m - Men | Bill Crothers | Silver | 1964 Tokyo |
High Jump - Men | Greg Joy | Silver | 1976 Montreal |
Relay 4x100m - Women | Angela Bailey, Angella Issajenko. France Gareau, Marita Payne | Silver | 1984 Los Angeles |
Relay 4x400m - Women | Charmaine Crooks, Dana Wright, Jillian Richardson, Marita Payne, Molly Killingbeck | Silver | 1984 Los Angeles |
Race Walk 20km - Men | Guillaume Leblanc | Silver | 1992 Barcelona |
200m - Men | Andre De Grasse | Silver | 2016 Rio |
Hurdles 400m - Men | George Orton | Bronze | 1900 Paris |
100m - Men | Robert Kerr | Bronze | 1908 London |
Hammer Throw - Men | Con Walsh | Bronze | 1908 London |
Long Jump - Men | Calvin Bricker | Bronze | 1908 London |
Pole Vault - Men | Edward Archibald | Bronze | 1908 London |
Pentathlon - Men | Frank Lukeman | Bronze | 1912 Stockholm |
Pole Vault - Men | William Halpenny | Bronze | 1912 Stockholm |
100m - Women | Ethel Smith | Bronze | 1928 Amsterdam |
Relay 4x400m - Men | Alex Wilson, Phil Edwards, James Ball, Stanley Glover | Bronze | 1928 Amsterdam |
Relay 4x400m - Men | Raymond Lewis, James Ball, Phil Edwards, Alex Wilson | Bronze | 1932 Los Angeles |
400m - Men | Alex Wilson | Bronze | 1932 Los Angeles |
800m - Men | Phil Edwards | Bronze | 1932 Los Angeles |
1500m - Men | Phil Edwards | Bronze | 1932 Los Angeles |
High Jump - Women | Eva Dawes | Bronze | 1932 Los Angeles |
Relay 4x100m - Women | Aileen Meagher, Dorothy Brookshaw, Hilda Cameron, Jeanette Dolson | Bronze | 1936 Berlin |
800m - Men | Phil Edwards | Bronze | 1936 Berlin |
Hurdles 80m - Women | Betty Taylor | Bronze | 1936 Berlin |
Relay 4x100m - Women | Diane Foster, Nancy MacKay, Patricia Jones, Viola Myers | Bronze | 1948 London |
100m - Men | Harry Jerome | Bronze | 1964 Tokyo |
100m - Men | Ben Johnson | Bronze | 1984 Los Angeles |
3000m - Women | Lynn Williams | Bronze | 1984 Los Angeles |
Relay 4x100m - Men | Ben Johnson, Desai Williams, Sterling Hinds, Tony Sharpe | Bronze | 1984 Los Angeles |
Decathlon - Men | Dave Steen | Bronze | 1988 Seoul |
3000m - Women | Angela Chalmers | Bronze | 1992 Barcelona |
Hurdles 100m - Women | Priscilla Lopes-Schliep | Bronze | 2008 Beijing |
Shot Put - Men | Dylan Armstrong | Bronze | 2008 Beijing |
High Jump - Men | Derek Drouin | Bronze | 2012 London |
100m | Andre De Grasse | Bronze | 2016 Rio |
Decathlon - Men | Damian Warner | Bronze | 2016 Rio |
4x100m Relay - Men | Andre De Grasse Brendon Rodney Bolade Ajomale Aaron Bown | Bronze | 2016 Rio |
Heptathlon - Women | Brianne Theisen-Eaton | Bronze | 2016 Rio |
TEAMS:
- Aiyanna-Brigitte Stiverne
- Alysha Newman
- Ashlan Best
- Bolade Ajomale
- Brendon Rodney
- Brittany Crew
- Camryn Rogers
- Christabel Nettey
- Crystal Emmanuel
- Damian Warner
- Django Lovett
- Evan Dunfee
- Gavin Smellie
- Geneviève Lalonde
- Jerome Blake
- Jessica O’Connell
- Jillian Weir
- Johnathan Cabral
- Keira Christie-Galloway
- Kelsie Ahbe
- Khamica Bingham
- Kyra Constantine
- Leya Buchanan
- Lindsey Butterworth
- Liz Gleadle
- Maïté Bouchard
- Marco Arop
- Mathieu Bilodeau
- Mike Mason
- Natasha Wodak
- Natassha McDonald
- Philip Osei
- Phylicia George
- Pierce LePage
- Rachel Cliff
- Regan Yee
- Rory Linkletter
- Ryan Smeeton
- Sage Watson
- Sarah Mitton
- Tim Nedow
- Travia Jones
- William Paulson
- Aaron Brown
- Akeem Haynes
- Alicia Brown
- Alysha Newman
- Alyxandria Treasure
- Andre De Grasse
- Andrea Seccafien
- Angela Whyte
- Anicka Newell
- Anthony Romaniw
- Ben Thorne
- Bolade Ajomale
- Brandon McBride
- Brendon Rodney
- Brianne Theisen-Eaton
- Brittany Crew
- Carline Muir
- Chanice Chase-Taylor
- Charles Philibert-Thiboutot
- Chris Winter
- Christabel Nettey
- Crystal Emmanuel
- Damian Warner
- Derek Drouin
- Eric Gillis
- Erin Teschuk
- Evan Dunfee
- Farah Jacques
- Gabriela DeBues-Stafford
- Geneviève Lalonde
- Heather Steacy
- Hilary Stellingwerff
- Inaki Gomez
- Jessica O’Connell
- Johnathan Cabral
- Kelsie Ahbe
- Kendra Clarke
- Khamica Bingham
- Krista DuChene
- Lanni Marchant
- Liz Gleadle
- Luc Bruchet
- Maria Bernard
- Marissa Kurtimah
- Mathieu Bilodeau
- Matt Hughes
- Melissa Bishop
- Micha Powell
- Mike Mason
- Mohammed Ahmed
- Natasha Wodak
- Nathan Brannen
- Nicole Sifuentes
- Nikkita Holder
- Noelle Montcalm
- Phylicia George
- Reid Coolsaet
- Sage Watson
- Segun Makinde
- Sekou Kaba
- Shawn Barber
- Taryn Suttie
- Taylor Milne
- Tim Nedow
- Aaron Brown
- Aaron Hendrikx
- Aaron Hernandez
- Alanna Kovacs
- Alex Genest
- Alicia Smith
- Alyxandria Treasure
- Andre De Grasse
- Anthony Romaniw
- Audrey Jean-Baptiste
- Brandon McBride
- Brendon Rodney
- Brianne Theisen-Eaton
- Cameron Levins
- Caroline Ehrhardt
- Catherine Watkins
- Charles Philibert-Thiboutot
- Christabel Nettey
- Creighton Connolly
- Crystal Emmanuel
- Damian Warner
- Daniel Harper
- Daniel Novia
- Derek Drouin
- Dontae Richards-Kwok
- Dushane Farrier
- Emma Kimoto
- Erin Teschuk
- Evan Dunfee
- Evan Karakolis
- Gavin Smellie
- Geneviève Lalonde
- Gregory MacNeill
- Heather Steacy
- Inaki Gomez
- James Steacy
- Jason Wurster
- Jessica O’Connell
- Jessica Smith
- Jessica Zelinka
- Jharyl Bowry
- Jillian Drouin
- Johnathan Cabral
- Julie Labonte
- Katelynn Ramage
- Kelsie Ahbe
- Khamica Bingham
- Kimberly Hyacinthe
- Kip Kangogo
- Lanni Marchant
- Liz Gleadle
- Luc Bruchet
- Marc-Antoine Lafrenaye-Dugas
- Marie-Josée Le Jour
- Matt Hughes
- Mélanie Blouin
- Melissa Bishop
- Melissa Fraser
- Michael Robertson
- Mike Mason
- Mohammed Ahmed
- Natasha LaBeaud
- Natasha Wodak
- Nathan Brannen
- Nathan George
- Nicole Sifuentes
- Nikkita Holder
- Patrick Arbour
- Philip Osei
- Phylicia George
- Rachel Hannah
- Rachel Seaman
- Raquel Tjernagel
- Raymond Dykstra
- Rob Watson
- Sage Watson
- Sarah Wells
- Sasha Gollish
- Sekou Kaba
- Shaina Harrison
- Shawn Barber
- Stevens Dorcelus
- Sultana Frizell
- Tacuma Anderson-Richards
- Tait Nystuen
- Taryn Suttie
- Taylor Sharpe
- Tim Hendry-Gallagher
- Tim Nedow
- Aaron Brown
- Alex Genest
- Brianne Theisen-Eaton
- Cameron Levins
- Crystal Emmanuel
- Curtis Moss
- Damian Warner
- Daundre Barnaby
- Derek Drouin
- Dylan Armstrong
- Dylan Wykes
- Eric Gillis
- Gavin Smellie
- Geoff Harris
- Heather Steacy
- Hilary Stellingwerff
- Inaki Gomez
- James Steacy
- Jared Connaughton
- Jenna Martin
- Jessica Smith
- Jessica Zelinka
- Julie Labonte
- Justin Rodhe
- Justyn Warner
- Kerri-Ann Mitchell
- Liz Gleadle
- Mélanie Blouin
- Melissa Bishop
- Mike Mason
- Mohammed Ahmed
- Nathan Brannen
- Nicole Sifuentes
- Nikkita Holder
- Phylicia George
- Rachel Seaman
- Reid Coolsaet
- Sarah Wells
- Seyi Smith
- Sheila Reid
- Sultana Frizell
- Tremaine Harris
- Achraf Tadili
- Adrienne Power
- Angela Whyte
- Anson Henry
- Bryan Barnett
- Carline Muir
- Dylan Armstrong
- Eric Gillis
- Gary Reed
- Hank Palmer
- James Steacy
- Jared Connaughton
- Jessica Zelinka
- Kelsie Hendry
- Kevin Sullivan
- Massimo Bertocchi
- Megan Metcalfe (Wright)
- Mike Mason
- Nathan Brannen
- Nicole Forrester
- Pierre Browne
- Priscilla Lopes-Schliep
- Rukayatu Abdulai
- Scott Russell
- Tabia Charles
- Taylor Milne
- Timothy Berrett
- Tyler Christopher
- Achraf Tadili
- Angela Whyte
- Anson Henry
- Brad Snyder
- Carmen Douma Hussar
- Charles Allen
- Courtney Babcock
- Dana Ellis
- Diane Cummins
- Emilie Mondor
- Gary Reed
- Jason Tunks
- Kevin Sullivan
- Malindi Elmore
- Mark Boswell
- Martin Grenier
- Nicolas Macrozonaris
- Perdita Felicien
- Pierre Browne
- Richard Adu-Bobie
- Stephanie McCann
- Timothy Berrett