Runners explode from blocks, jumpers launch into sand pits, and throwers spin across circles of concrete. Collectively these track-and-field events are called athletics. The sport tests the pure physical capacities of speed, strength, and endurance.

Athletics includes sprints, middle- and long-distance races, hurdles, relays, jumps, and throws. Competitions range from local meets to the World Championships and Olympic Games. Facilities require a standard 400-meter track, runways, and throwing circles. Timing systems and measurement tools ensure precise results.

Training is highly specialized by event. Sprinters emphasize power and technique; distance runners build aerobic capacity; field-event athletes combine strength with complex motor skills. The simplicity of the challenges—run faster, jump higher or farther, throw longer—gives athletics a universal appeal.

• Track and field sports of running, jumping, and throwing
• Includes sprints, distance races, jumps, and throws
• Contested on standardized outdoor or indoor facilities
• Core of the modern Olympic program