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776 BCE
Olympic Games Begin
was a 600ft foot race that took place in a stadium -
Beginnings of Modern Track emerge in Northern Europe and US
Amateur Athletic Association of England who in 1880 organized the annual AAA Championship. Even before England, the New York Athletic Club from the United States organized the first USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship back in 1876. -
First Modern Olympic Games
Took place in Athens Greece, introduction of the Marathon which was not an original Olympic race -
IAAF founded
International Amateur Athletic Federation or IAAF was founded and as such it became the international governing body for track and field. -
Women Compete in Olympic Games for the First time
took place in Amsterdam -
First Paralympics
first event for people with disabilities took place in Rome and was meant primarily for people in wheelchairs -
Fall of Amateurism and rise of popularity of Track and Field
IAAF removed all reference to amateurism and renamed itself, the nternational Association of Athletics Federation, stars like Carl Lewis, Sergey Bubka, Sebastian Coe, Zola Budd and Florence Griffith-Joyner emerge during this time -
Most Decorated Male Track and Field Athlete Carl Lewis
10 total medals, 8 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze in his 12 year Olympic career from 1984-1996 9 in sprints and one in Long jump -
Doping Controversies
Anabolic Steroid use was pervasive in the 1960' s, blood doping pervasive from 1960's to 1990"s (increasing O2 in blood through transfusion) 1976 gold medalist in 5K and 10K Lasse Viren notable US athletes suspended in the 21st century for doping: Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin, -
IAAF Cahmpionships introduce prize money
1million USD in prize money, took place in Athens -
Most Decorated Female Olympian of all time wins her medals
first olympic medal in 2004 at age 18 in 200m (silver), to most recently 2016 in Rio with 2 gold and one silver -
Reign of Usain Bolt
2008-2016 only athlete male or female to win Olympic gold 3 consecutive times in the 100m dash holding both the Olympic record 9.63 and world record 9.58 at that distance, as well as the world record in the 200m dash 19.19 -
IAAF Diamond League is Created
replaces IAAF Golden league, is a series of fourteen tack meetings held in Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East—the first ever worldwide annual series of track and field meetings
