ATHLETIC

Athletics in Sport Why it matters: Athletics is the foundation of sport. Running, jumping and throwing are the most basic tests of human ability, and they sit at the core of the Olympic Games. Almost every other sport builds on these skills. The main disciplines Sprints: 100m, 200m and 400m, where reaction time and explosive power decide the result. Middle and long distance: 800m to 10,000m, plus the marathon, which mixes endurance with tactics. Hurdles and steeplechase: speed combined with rhythm and technique. Jumps: long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault. Throws: shot put, discus, javelin and hammer. Combined events: decathlon (men) and heptathlon (women), which crown the all-round athlete. History and events Athletics goes back to the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, where the footrace, or stadion, was the original event. Modern athletics was formalised in the 19th century and has been on the program of every modern Olympics since 1896. The main stages today are the Olympic Games, the World Athletics Championships, the Diamond League circuit and city marathons such as Berlin, London and Amsterdam. Athletics as a business Shoe and apparel sponsorships drive the sport's economy, and carbon-plated shoes have changed road running. Prize money and appearance fees vary widely, with top stars earning far more than most professionals. Marathons and meetings bring in tourism, media rights and broad public participation. What makes an athlete Speed, strength, endurance and technique are the four pillars. Training is built in cycles that peak for major championships, with recovery treated as seriously as effort.