Olympic medalists in athletics (men)
These are the male Olympic medalists in athletics. See Olympic medalists in athletics (women) for female medalists, category:athletes for other track and field athletes and Olympic medalists for medalists in other sports.
| Contents |
60 m
This event has only been held twice. Both winners, Kraenzlein and Hahn, were also successful in other events, and share a total of 7 Olympic sprint titles.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | Alvin Kraenzlein (USA) | John Tewksbury (USA) | Stanley Rowley (AUS) |
| 1904 | Archie Hahn (USA) | William Hogenson (USA) | Fay Moulton (USA) |
100 m
The 100 m has been part of the Olympics since the beginning in 1896, and is usually among the best publicised events. It has been dominated by Americans, who have won 16 out of 25 titles. Only two athletes have won the title twice, Archie Hahn and Carl Lewis. Hahn won his titles only two years apart, while Lewis only retained his title after Canadian runner Ben Johnson, winner of the final, was disqualified after he tested positive for steroids.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Tom Burke (USA) | Fritz Hoffmann (GER) | Alajos Szokolyi (HUN) Francis Lane (USA) |
| 1900 | Frank Jarvis (USA) | John Tewksbury (USA) | Stanley Rowley (AUS) |
| 1904 | Archie Hahn (USA) | Nate Cartmell (USA) | William Hogenson (USA) |
| 1906 | Archie Hahn (USA) | Fay Moulton (USA) | Nigel Barker (AUS) |
| 1908 | Reggie Walker (RSA) | James Rector (USA) | Bobby Kerr (CAN) |
| 1912 | Ralph Craig (USA) | Alvah Meyer (USA) | Don Lippincott (USA) |
| 1920 | Charlie Paddock (USA) | Morris Kirksey (USA) | Harry Edward (GBR) |
| 1924 | Harold Abrahams (GBR) | Jackson Scholz (USA) | Arthur Porritt (NZL) |
| 1928 | Percy Williams (CAN) | Jack London (GBR) | Georg Lammers (GER) |
| 1932 | Eddie Tolan (USA) | Ralph Metcalfe (USA) | Arthur Jonath (GER) |
| 1936 | Jesse Owens (USA) | Ralph Metcalfe (USA) | Tinus Osendarp (NED) |
| 1948 | Harrison Dillard (USA) | Barney Ewell (USA) | Lloyd LaBeach (PAN) |
| 1952 | Lindy Remigino (USA) | Herb McKenley (JAM) | Emmanuel McDonald Bailey (GBR) |
| 1956 | Bobby Joe Morrow (USA) | Thane Baker (USA) | Hector Hogan (AUS) |
| 1960 | Armin Hary (GER) | David Sime (USA) | Peter Radford (GBR) |
| 1964 | Bob Hayes (USA) | Enrique Figuerola (CUB) | Harry Jerome (CAN) |
| 1968 | Jim Hines (USA) | Lennox Miller (JAM) | Charles Greene (USA) |
| 1972 | Valeri Borzov (URS) | Robert Taylor (USA) | Lennox Miller (JAM) |
| 1976 | Hasely Crawford (TRI) | Don Quarrie (JAM) | Valeri Borzov (URS) |
| 1980 | Allan Wells (GBR) | Silvio Leonard (CUB) | Petar Petrov (BUL) |
| 1984 | Carl Lewis (USA) | Sam Graddy (USA) | Ben Johnson (CAN) |
| 1988 | Carl Lewis (USA) | Linford Christie (GBR) | Calvin Smith (USA) |
| 1992 | Linford Christie (GBR) | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Dennis Mitchell (USA) |
| 1996 | Donovan Bailey (CAN) | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Ato Boldon (TRI) |
| 2000 | Maurice Greene (USA) | Ato Boldon (TRI) | Obadele Thompson (BAR) |
| 2004 | Justin Gatlin (USA) | Francis Obikwelu (POR) | Maurice Greene (USA) |
200 m
The 200 m is the event most like the stadion event, which was the first event contested at the ancient Olympics. It was introduced at the Olympics in 1900, and has been held ever since, with the exception of the 1906 Intercalated Games. 1904 marked the only occasion at which the 200 m was run on a track without a curve. Like the 100 m, Americans have dominated this event, with 17 wins. No athlete has been able to win the 200 m twice, but eight sprinters have managed to win the 100 and 200 m at the same Olympics.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | John Tewksbury (USA) | Norman Pritchard (IND) | Stanley Rowley (AUS) |
| 1904 | Archie Hahn (USA) | Nate Cartmell (USA) | William Hogenson (USA) |
| 1908 | Bobby Kerr (CAN) | Robert Cloughen (USA) | Nate Cartmell (USA) |
| 1912 | Ralph Craig (USA) | Don Lippincott (USA) | William Applegarth (GBR) |
| 1920 | Allen Woodring (USA) | Charlie Paddock (USA) | Harry Edward (GBR) |
| 1924 | Jackson Scholz (USA) | Charlie Paddock (USA) | Eric Liddell (GBR) |
| 1928 | Percy Williams (CAN) | Walter Rangeley (GBR) | Helmut Körnig (GER) |
| 1932 | Eddie Tolan (USA) | George Simpson (USA) | Ralph Metcalfe (USA) |
| 1936 | Jesse Owens (USA) | Mack Robinson (USA) | Tinus Osendarp (NED) |
| 1948 | Mel Patton (USA) | Barney Ewell (USA) | Lloyd LaBeach (PAN) |
| 1952 | Andy Stanfield (USA) | Thane Baker (USA) | James Gathers (USA) |
| 1956 | Bobby Joe Morrow (USA) | Andy Stanfield (USA) | Thane Baker (USA) |
| 1960 | Livio Berruti (ITA) | Lester Carney (USA) | Abdoulaye Seye (SEN) |
| 1964 | Henry Carr (USA) | Otis Drayton (USA) | Ed Roberts (TRI) |
| 1968 | Tommie Smith (USA) | Peter Norman (AUS) | John Carlos (USA) |
| 1972 | Valeri Borzov (URS) | Larry Black (USA) | Pietro Mennea (ITA) |
| 1976 | Don Quarrie (JAM) | Millard Hampton (USA) | Dwayne Evans (USA) |
| 1980 | Pietro Mennea (ITA) | Allan Wells (GBR) | Don Quarrie (JAM) |
| 1984 | Carl Lewis (USA) | Kirk Baptiste (USA) | Thomas Jefferson (USA) |
| 1988 | Joe DeLoach (USA) | Carl Lewis (USA) | Robson da Silva (BRA) |
| 1992 | Mike Marsh (USA) | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Michael Bates (USA) |
| 1996 | Michael Johnson (USA) | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Ato Boldon (TRI) |
| 2000 | Konstantinos Kenteris (GRE) | Darren Campbell (GBR) | Ato Boldon (TRI) |
| 2004 | Shawn Crawford (USA) | Bernard Williams (USA) | Justin Gatlin (USA) |
400 m
The 400 m, the one lap long sprint (on a modern track), has been part of the Olympics since the first Olympics in 1896. The event has been dominated by Americans, who have won 18 of the 25 titles. The first runner to defend his title successfully was Michael Johnson, who won the championship in 1996 and 2000. In 1908, the final was a walkover for British runner Wyndham Halswelle. He had been obstructed by the American runner John Carpenter in the first final, which was the reason for a re-run. However, the other runners — both American — refused to run, leaving the title to Halswelle.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Tom Burke (USA) | Herbert Jamison (USA) | Charles Gmelin (GBR) |
| 1900 | Maxey Long (USA) | William Holland (USA) | Ernst Schultz (DEN) |
| 1904 | Harry Hillman (USA) | Frank Waller (USA) | Herman Groman (USA) |
| 1906 | Paul Pilgrim (USA) | Wyndham Halswelle (GBR) | Nigel Barker (AUS) |
| 1908 | Wyndham Halswelle (GBR) | - | - |
| 1912 | Charles Reidpath (USA) | Hanns Braun (GER) | Edward Lindberg (USA) |
| 1920 | Bevil Rudd (RSA) | Guy Butler (GBR) | Nils Engdahl (SWE) |
| 1924 | Eric Liddell (GBR) | Horatio Fitch (USA) | Guy Butler (GBR) |
| 1928 | Ray Barbuti (USA) | James Ball (CAN) | Joachim Büchner (GER) |
| 1932 | Bill Carr (USA) | Ben Eastman (USA) | Alex Wilson (CAN) |
| 1936 | Archie Williams (USA) | Godfrey Brown (GBR) | James LuValle (USA) |
| 1948 | Arthur Wint (JAM) | Herb McKenley (JAM) | Mal Whitfield (USA) |
| 1952 | George Rhoden (JAM) | Herb McKenley (JAM) | Ollie Matson (USA) |
| 1956 | Charlie Jenkins (USA) | Karl-Friedrich Haas (GER) | Voitto Hellsten (FIN) Ardalion Ignatyev (URS) |
| 1960 | Otis Davis (USA) | Carl Kaufmann (GER) | Malcolm Spence (RSA) |
| 1964 | Michael Larrabee (USA) | Wendell Mottley (TRI) | Andrzej Badeński (POL) |
| 1968 | Lee Evans (USA) | Larry James (USA) | Ron Freeman (USA) |
| 1972 | Vincent Matthews (USA) | Wayne Collett (USA) | Julius Sang (KEN) |
| 1976 | Alberto Juantorena (CUB) | Fred Newhouse (USA) | Herman Frazier (USA) |
| 1980 | Viktor Markin (URS) | Rick Mitchell (AUS) | Frank Schaffer (GDR) |
| 1984 | Alonzo Babers (USA) | Gabriel Tiacoh (CIV) | Antonio McKay (USA) |
| 1988 | Steve Lewis (USA) | Butch Reynolds (USA) | Danny Everett (USA) |
| 1992 | Quincy Watts (USA) | Steve Lewis (USA) | Samson Kitur (KEN) |
| 1996 | Michael Johnson (USA) | Roger Black (GBR) | Davis Kamoga (UGA) |
| 2000 | Michael Johnson (USA) | Alvin Harrison (USA) | Greg Haughton (JAM) |
| 2004 | Jeremy Wariner (USA) | Otis Harris (USA) | Derrick Brew (USA) |
800 m
The 800 m, the shortest of the so-called middle distances, has always been on the Olympic programme. In the past, the distance was dominated by Americans (9 wins) and Britons (6 wins), but there have been no winners from these countries since 1972 and 1980, respectively. Three athletes have succeeded in winning two consecutive titles in the 800 m: Douglas Lowe (Great Britain), Mal Whitfield (United States) and Peter Snell (New Zealand).
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Teddy Flack (AUS) | Nándor Dáni (HUN) | Dimitrios Golemis (GRE) |
| 1900 | Alfred Tysoe (GBR) | John Cregan (USA) | David Hall (USA) |
| 1904 | Jim Lightbody (USA) | Howard Valentine (USA) | Emil Breitkreutz (USA) |
| 1906 | Paul Pilgrim (USA) | Jim Lightbody (USA) | Wyndham Halswelle (GBR) |
| 1908 | Mel Sheppard (USA) | Emilio Lunghi (ITA) | Hanns Braun (GER) |
| 1912 | Ted Meredith (USA) | Mel Sheppard (USA) | Ira Davenport (USA) |
| 1920 | Albert Hill (GBR) | Earl Eby (USA) | Bevil Rudd (RSA) |
| 1924 | Douglas Lowe (GBR) | Paul Martin (SUI) | Schuyler Enck (USA) |
| 1928 | Douglas Lowe (GBR) | Erik Byléhn (SWE) | Hermann Engelhard (GER) |
| 1932 | Thomas Hampson (GBR) | Alex Wilson (CAN) | Phil Edwards (CAN) |
| 1936 | John Woodruff (USA) | Mario Lanzi (ITA) | Phil Edwards (CAN) |
| 1948 | Mal Whitfield (USA) | Arthur Wint (JAM) | Marcel Hansenne (FRA) |
| 1952 | Mal Whitfield (USA) | Arthur Wint (JAM) | Heinz Ulzheimer (GER) |
| 1956 | Tom Courtney (USA) | Derek Johnson (GBR) | Audun Boysen (NOR) |
| 1960 | Peter Snell (NZL) | Roger Moens (BEL) | George Kerr (BWI) |
| 1964 | Peter Snell (NZL) | Bill Crothers (CAN) | Wilson Kiprugut (KEN) |
| 1968 | Ralph Doubell (AUS) | Wilson Kiprugut (KEN) | Tom Farrell (USA) |
| 1972 | Dave Wottle (USA) | Yevgeni Arzhanov (URS) | Mike Boit (KEN) |
| 1976 | Alberto Juantorena (CUB) | Ivo Van Damme (BEL) | Rick Wohlhuter (USA) |
| 1980 | Steve Ovett (GBR) | Sebastian Coe (GBR) | Nikolay Kirov (URS) |
| 1984 | Joaquim Cruz (BRA) | Sebastian Coe (GBR) | Earl Jones (USA) |
| 1988 | Paul Ereng (KEN) | Joaquim Cruz (BRA) | Saďd Aouita (MAR) |
| 1992 | William Tanui (KEN) | Nixon Kiprotich (KEN) | Johnny Gray (USA) |
| 1996 | Vebjřrn Rodal (NOR) | Hezekiél Sepeng (RSA) | Fred Onyancha (KEN) |
| 2000 | Nils Schumann (GER) | Wilson Kipketer (DEN) | Djabir Saďd Guerni (ALG) |
| 2004 | Yuriy Borzakovskiy (RUS) | Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (RSA) | Wilson Kipketer (DEN) |
1500 m
The 1500 m, also known as the "metric mile", has been run at the Olympic Games since 1896, and has known winners from 12 different countries. Two of them, Jim Lightbody and Sebastian Coe, have won the event two times. Many athletes are able to run both the 1500 m and the 800 m well, and five Olympians have managed to win both titles. The only athlete to achieve this feat after World War II is New Zealand's Peter Snell.
A rarer double is the 1500 m and 5000 m; only two athletes, Paavo Nurmi in 1924 and Hicham El Guerrouj in 2004, have accomplished this feat.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Teddy Flack (AUS) | Arthur Blake (USA) | Albin Lermusiaux (FRA) |
| 1900 | Charles Bennett (GBR) | Henri Deloge (FRA) | John Bray (USA) |
| 1904 | Jim Lightbody (USA) | William Verner (USA) | Lacey Hearn (USA) |
| 1906 | Jim Lightbody (USA) | John McGough (GBR) | Kristian Hellström (SWE) |
| 1908 | Mel Sheppard (USA) | Harold Wilson (GBR) | Norman Hallows (GBR) |
| 1912 | Arnold Jackson (GBR) | Abel Kiviat (USA) | Norman Taber (USA) |
| 1920 | Albert Hill (GBR) | Philip Baker (GBR) | Lawrence Shields (USA) |
| 1924 | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Willy Schärer (SUI) | Henry Stallard (GBR) |
| 1928 | Harry Larva (FIN) | Jules Ladoumčgue (FRA) | Eino Purje (FIN) |
| 1932 | Luigi Beccali (ITA) | Jerry Cornes (GBR) | Phil Edwards (CAN) |
| 1936 | Jack Lovelock (NZL) | Glenn Cunningham (USA) | Luigi Beccali (ITA) |
| 1948 | Henry Eriksson (SWE) | Lennart Strand (SWE) | Wim Slijkhuis (NED) |
| 1952 | Josy Barthel (LUX) | Bob McMillen (USA) | Werner Lueg (GER) |
| 1956 | Ron Delany (IRL) | Klaus Richtzenhain (GER) | John Landy (AUS) |
| 1960 | Herb Elliott (AUS) | Michel Jazy (FRA) | István Rózsavölgyi (HUN) |
| 1964 | Peter Snell (NZL) | Josef Odlozil (TCH) | John Davies (NZL) |
| 1968 | Kip Keino (KEN) | Jim Ryun (USA) | Bodo Tümmler (FRG) |
| 1972 | Pekka Vasala (FIN) | Kip Keino (KEN) | Rod Dixon (NZL) |
| 1976 | John Walker (NZL) | Ivo Van Damme (BEL) | Paul-Heinz Wellmann (FRG) |
| 1980 | Sebastian Coe (GBR) | Jürgen Straub (GDR) | Steve Ovett (GBR) |
| 1984 | Sebastian Coe (GBR) | Steve Cram (GBR) | José Manuel Abascal (ESP) |
| 1988 | Peter Rono (KEN) | Peter Elliott (GBR) | Jens-Peter Herold (GDR) |
| 1992 | Fermín Cacho (ESP) | Rachid El Basir (MAR) | Mohammed Suleiman (QAT) |
| 1996 | Noureddine Morceli (ALG) | Fermín Cacho (ESP) | Stephen Kipkorir (KEN) |
| 2000 | Noah Ngeny (KEN) | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Bernard Lagat (KEN) |
| 2004 | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Bernard Lagat (KEN) | Rui Silva (POR) |
5000 m
The first 5000 m was run at the 1912 Summer Olympics and the event has never left the programme since. With 7 Olympic champions, Finland has won the most 5000 m titles, but African runners have dominated the event since the late 1960s. Only Lasse Virén has managed to retain his Olympic title, in 1972 and 1976. The original 1984 silver medallist, Martti Vainio of Finland, was disqualified after failing his drugs test.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) | Jean Bouin (FRA) | George Hutson (GBR) |
| 1920 | Joseph Guillemot (FRA) | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Eric Backman (SWE) |
| 1924 | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Ville Ritola (FIN) | Edvin Wide (SWE) |
| 1928 | Ville Ritola (FIN) | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Edvin Wide (SWE) |
| 1932 | Lauri Lehtinen (FIN) | Ralph Hill (USA) | Lauri Virtanen (FIN) |
| 1936 | Gunnar Höckert (FIN) | Lauri Lehtinen (FIN) | Henry Jonsson (SWE) |
| 1948 | Gaston Reiff (BEL) | Emil Zátopek (TCH) | Wim Slijkhuis (NED) |
| 1952 | Emil Zátopek (TCH) | Alain Mimoun (FRA) | Herbert Schade (GER) |
| 1956 | Vladimir Kuts (URS) | Gordon Pirie (GBR) | Derek Ibbotson (GBR) |
| 1960 | Murray Halberg (NZL) | Hans Grodotzki (GER) | Kazimierz Zimny (POL) |
| 1964 | Bob Schul (USA) | Harald Norpoth (GER) | William Dellinger (USA) |
| 1968 | Mohammed Gammoudi (TUN) | Kip Keino (KEN) | Naftali Temu (KEN) |
| 1972 | Lasse Virén (FIN) | Mohammed Gammoudi (TUN) | Ian Stewart (GBR) |
| 1976 | Lasse Virén (FIN) | Dick Quax (NZL) | Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand (FRG) |
| 1980 | Muruse Yefter (ETH) | Suleiman Nyambui (TAN) | Kaarlo Maaninka (FIN) |
| 1984 | Saďd Aouita (MAR) | Markus Ryffel (SUI) | Antonio Leităo (POR) |
| 1988 | John Ngugi (KEN) | Dieter Baumann (FRG) | Hansjörg Kunze (GDR) |
| 1992 | Dieter Baumann (GER) | Paul Bitok (KEN) | Fita Bayisa (ETH) |
| 1996 | Vénuste Niyongabo (BDI) | Paul Bitok (KEN) | Khalid Boulami (MAR) |
| 2000 | Millon Wolde (ETH) | Ali Saidi-Sief (ALG) | Brahim Lahlafi (MAR) |
| 2004 | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) |
5 miles
The 5 miles (8047 m) has been featured on the Olympic programme twice, in 1906 and 1908. The race was won by British runners on both occasions.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | Henry Hawtrey (GBR) | Johan Svanberg (SWE) | Edward Dahl (SWE) |
| 1908 | Emil Voigt (GBR) | Edward Owen (GBR) | Johan Svanberg (SWE) |
10000 m
The 10000 m is the longest track event in the Olympics, which was added to the Games in 1912. Finnish runners have won this event 7 times, but, like the 5000 m, the 10000 m is currently the domain of the Africans. Four runners have won the event twice, Paavo Nurmi being the only to win the event eight years apart. In 1924, he was unable to compete, as Finnish officials thought he had entered enough events already. Six Olympians have won the 5000 and 10000 m at the same Olympics, Lasse Virén even on two occasions. Nurmi has also won both events, but not at the same Olympics.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) | Lewis Tewanima (USA) | Albin Stenroos (FIN) |
| 1920 | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Joseph Guillemot (FRA) | James Wilson (GBR) |
| 1924 | Ville Ritola (FIN) | Edvin Wide (SWE) | Eero Berg (FIN) |
| 1928 | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Ville Ritola (FIN) | Edvin Wide (SWE) |
| 1932 | Janusz Kusociński (POL) | Volmari Iso-Hollo (FIN) | Lasse Virtanen (FIN) |
| 1936 | Ilmari Salminen (FIN) | Arvo Askola (FIN) | Volmari Iso-Hollo (FIN) |
| 1948 | Emil Zátopek (TCH) | Alain Mimoun (FRA) | Bertil Albertsson (SWE) |
| 1952 | Emil Zátopek (TCH) | Alain Mimoun (FRA) | Aleksandr Anufriyev (URS) |
| 1956 | Vladimir Kuts (URS) | József Kovács (HUN) | Allan Lawrence (AUS) |
| 1960 | Pyotr Bolotnikov (URS) | Hans Grodotzki (GER) | David Power (AUS) |
| 1964 | Billy Mills (USA) | Mohammed Gammoudi (TUN) | Ron Clarke (AUS) |
| 1968 | Naftali Temu (KEN) | Mamo Wolde (ETH) | Mohammed Gammoudi (TUN) |
| 1972 | Lasse Virén (FIN) | Emiel Puttemans (BEL) | Muruse Yefter (ETH) |
| 1976 | Lasse Virén (FIN) | Carlos Lopes (POR) | Brendan Foster (GBR) |
| 1980 | Muruse Yefter (ETH) | Kaarlo Maaninka (FIN) | Mohammed Kedir (ETH) |
| 1984 | Alberto Cova (ITA) | Michael McLeod (GBR) | Michael Musyoki (KEN) |
| 1988 | Brahim Boutayeb (MAR) | Salvatore Antibo (ITA) | Kipkemboi Kimeli (KEN) |
| 1992 | Khalid Skah (MAR) | Richard Chelimo (KEN) | Addis Abebe (ETH) |
| 1996 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | Paul Tergat (KEN) | Saleh Hissou (MAR) |
| 2000 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | Paul Tergat (KEN) | Assefa Mezgebu (ETH) |
| 2004 | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | Sileshi Sihine (ETH) | Zersenay Tadesse (ERI) |
Marathon
The marathon was invented for the 1896 Olympics, and has been contested at all Olympics since. The distance of the marathon at the Olympics has varied in the early years, before being standardised at 42,195 m in 1924, the distance that was run at the 1908 Olympics. In other years, the distances have been:
- 1896: 40,000 m (approximately)
- 1900: 40,260 m
- 1904: 40,000 m
- 1906: 41,860 m
- 1912: 40,200 m
- 1920: 42,750 m
Two marathon runners have won the Olympic marathon twice, Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia and Waldemar Cierpinski, of East Germany. With four wins, Ethiopia has been the most successful nation in the Olympic marathon.
Several disqualifications have affected the order of the medallists in this event. In 1896, Greek runner Spiridon Belokas, third, had ridden part of the course by cart. Eight years later, American Fred Lorz cheated in a similar way, covering most of the race by automobile. He crossed the line first, and claimed it had been a joke when his fraud was discovered. Italian runner Dorando Pietri finished first in the 1908 marathon, but was disqualified for being helped by officials in the last part of his race, during which he collapsed several times.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Spiridon Louis (GRE) | Kharilaos Vasilakos (GRE) | Gyula Kellner (HUN) |
| 1900 | Michel Théato (LUX) | Émile Champion (FRA) | Ernst Fast (SWE) |
| 1904 | Thomas J. Hicks (USA) | Albert Coray (FRA) | Arthur Newton (USA) |
| 1906 | William Sherring (CAN) | Johan Svanberg (SWE) | William Frank (USA) |
| 1908 | Johnny Hayes (USA) | Charles Hefferon (RSA) | Joseph Forshaw (USA) |
| 1912 | Kenneth McArthur (RSA) | Christian Gitsham (RSA) | Gaston Strobino (USA) |
| 1920 | Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) | Jüri Lossmann (EST) | Valerio Arri (ITA) |
| 1924 | Albin Stenroos (FIN) | Romeo Bertini (ITA) | Clarence DeMar (USA) |
| 1928 | Boughera El Ouafi (FRA) | Manuel Plaza (CHI) | Martti Marttelin (FIN) |
| 1932 | Juan Carlos Zabala (ARG) | Samuel Ferris (GBR) | Armas Toivonen (FIN) |
| 1936 | Sohn Kee-Chung (KOR) | Ernest Harper (GBR) | Nam Sung-Yong (KOR) |
| 1948 | Delfo Cabrera (ARG) | Thomas Richards (GBR) | Etienne Gailly (BEL) |
| 1952 | Emil Zátopek (TCH) | Reinaldo Gorno (ARG) | Gustaf Jansson (SWE) |
| 1956 | Alain Mimoun (FRA) | Franjo Mihalic (YUG) | Veikko Karvonen (FIN) |
| 1960 | Abebe Bikila (ETH) | Rhadi Ben Abdesselam (MAR) | Barry Magee (NZL) |
| 1964 | Abebe Bikila (ETH) | Basil Heatley (GBR) | Kokichi Tsuburaya (JPN) |
| 1968 | Mamo Wolde (ETH) | Kenji Kimihara (JPN) | Michael Ryan (NZL) |
| 1972 | Frank Shorter (USA) | Karel Lismont (BEL) | Mamo Wolde (ETH) |
| 1976 | Waldemar Cierpinski (GDR) | Frank Shorter (USA) | Karel Lismont (BEL) |
| 1980 | Waldemar Cierpinski (GDR) | Gerard Nijboer (NED) | Satymkul Dzhumanazarov (URS) |
| 1984 | Carlos Lopes (POR) | John Treacy (IRL) | Charles Spedding (GBR) |
| 1988 | Gelindo Bordin (ITA) | Douglas Wakiihuri (KEN) | Ahmed Salah (DJI) |
| 1992 | Hwang Young-Cho (KOR) | Koichi Morishita (JPN) | Stephan Freigang (GER) |
| 1996 | Josia Thugwane (RSA) | Lee Bong-Ju (KOR) | Eric Wainaina (KEN) |
| 2000 | Gezahegne Abera (ETH) | Eric Wainaina (KEN) | Tesfaye Tola (ETH) |
| 2004 | Stefano Baldini (ITA) | Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) | Vanderlei de Lima (BRA) |
110 m hurdles
The 110 m hurdles, or high hurdles, have been part of the Olympics since Athens 1896. Americans have won 19 of the 25 titles. Two Americans, Lee Calhoun and Roger Kingdom, are the only ones to have won the event more than once. In 1896, the final was only contested by two athletes, because the other two finalists decided not to compete.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Thomas Curtis (USA) | Grantley Goulding (GBR) | - |
| 1900 | Alvin Kraenzlein (USA) | John McClean (USA) | Fred Moloney (USA) |
| 1904 | Frederick Schule (USA) | Thaddeus Schideler (USA) | Lesley Ashburner (USA) |
| 1906 | Robert Leavitt (USA) | Alfred Healey (GBR) | Vincent Duncker (GER) |
| 1908 | Forrest Smithson (USA) | John Garrels (USA) | Arthur Shaw (USA) |
| 1912 | Frederick Kelly (USA) | James Wendell (USA) | Martin Hawkins (USA) |
| 1920 | Earl Thomson (CAN) | Harold Barron (USA) | Frederick Murray (USA) |
| 1924 | Daniel Kinsey (USA) | Sydney Atkinson (RSA) | Sten Pettersson (SWE) |
| 1928 | Sydney Atkinson (RSA) | Steve Anderson (USA) | John Collier (USA) |
| 1932 | George Saling (USA) | Percy Beard (USA) | Donald Finlay (GBR) |
| 1936 | Forrest Towns (USA) | Donald Finlay (GBR) | Frederick Pollar (USA) |
| 1948 | William Porter (USA) | Clyde Scott (USA) | Craig Dixon (USA) |
| 1952 | Harrison Dillard (USA) | Jack Davis (USA) | Arthur Barnard (USA) |
| 1956 | Lee Calhoun (USA) | Jack Davis (USA) | Joel Shankle (USA) |
| 1960 | Lee Calhoun (USA) | Willie May (USA) | Hayes Jones (USA) |
| 1964 | Hayes Jones (USA) | Blaine Lindgren (USA) | Anatoli Mikhailov (URS) |
| 1968 | Willie Davenport (USA) | Ervin Hall (USA) | Eddy Ottoz (ITA) |
| 1972 | Rod Milburn (USA) | Guy Drut (FRA) | Thomas Hill (USA) |
| 1976 | Guy Drut (FRA) | Alejandro Casańas (CUB) | Willie Davenport (USA) |
| 1980 | Thomas Munkelt (GDR) | Alejandro Casańas (CUB) | Aleksandr Puchkov (URS) |
| 1984 | Roger Kingdom (USA) | Greg Foster (USA) | Arto Bryggare (FIN) |
| 1988 | Roger Kingdom (USA) | Colin Jackson (GBR) | Tony Campbell (USA) |
| 1992 | Mark McKoy (CAN) | Tony Dees (USA) | Jack Pierce (USA) |
| 1996 | Allen Johnson (USA) | Mark Crear (USA) | Florian Schwarthoff (GER) |
| 2000 | Ańer García (CUB) | Terrence Trammell (USA) | Mark Crear (USA) |
| 2004 | Liu Xiang (CHN) | Terrence Trammell (USA) | Ańer García (CUB) |
200 m hurdles
The 200 m hurdles event was only contested in 1900 and 1904. It was then discontinued, despite the fact that it was held at the US national championships until 1961.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | Alvin Kraenzlein (USA) | Norman Pritchard (IND) | John Tewksbury (USA) |
| 1904 | Harry Hillman (USA) | Frank Castleman (USA) | George Poage (USA) |
400 m hurdles
Introduced in 1900, the 400 m hurdles have been contested at most Olympic Games since, save 1906 and 1912. The United States have been the dominant nation, winning 17 times. Glenn Davis and Edwin Moses are the only low hurdlers to have won the Olympic title twice. Moses won his titles eight years apart, while being unable to compete in the 1980 Olympics due to the American boycott of these Games. In 1904, the hurdles were only 2 ft 6 inches high, as opposed to the normal 3 ft (91.4 cm).
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | John Tewksbury (USA) | Henri Tauzin (FRA) | George Orton (CAN) |
| 1904 | Harry Hillman (USA) | Frank Waller (USA) | George Poage (USA) |
| 1908 | Charles Bacon (USA) | Harry Hillman (USA) | Jimmy Tremeer (GBR) |
| 1920 | Frank Loomis (USA) | John Norton (USA) | August Desch (USA) |
| 1924 | Morgan Taylor (USA) | Erik Wilén (FIN) | Ivan Riley (USA) |
| 1928 | David Burghley (GBR) | Frank Cuhel (USA) | Morgan Taylor (USA) |
| 1932 | Bob Tisdall (IRL) | Glenn Hardin (USA) | Morgan Taylor (USA) |
| 1936 | Glenn Hardin (USA) | John Loaring (CAN) | Miguel White (PHI) |
| 1948 | Roy Cochran (USA) | Duncan White (CEY) | Rune Larsson (SWE) |
| 1952 | Charles Moore (USA) | Yuri Lituyev (URS) | John Holland (NZL) |
| 1956 | Glenn Davis (USA) | Eddie Southern (USA) | Josh Culbreath (USA) |
| 1960 | Glenn Davis (USA) | Clifton Cushman (USA) | Richard Howard (USA) |
| 1964 | Rex Cawley (USA) | John Cooper (GBR) | Salvatore Morale (ITA) |
| 1968 | David Hemery (GBR) | Gerhard Hennige (FRG) | John Sherwood (GBR) |
| 1972 | John Akii-Bua (UGA) | Ralph Mann (USA) | David Hemery (GBR) |
| 1976 | Edwin Moses (USA) | Michael Shine (USA) | Yevgeni Gavrilenko (URS) |
| 1980 | Volker Beck (GDR) | Vasili Arkhipenko (URS) | Gary Oakes (GBR) |
| 1984 | Edwin Moses (USA) | Danny Harris (USA) | Harald Schmid (FRG) |
| 1988 | André Phillips (USA) | Amadou Dia Ba (SEN) | Edwin Moses (USA) |
| 1992 | Kevin Young (USA) | Winthrop Graham (JAM) | Kriss Akabusi (GBR) |
| 1996 | Derrick Adkins (USA) | Samuel Matete (ZAM) | Calvin Davis (USA) |
| 2000 | Angelo Taylor (USA) | Hadi Souan Somalyi (KSA) | Llewellyn Herbert (RSA) |
| 2004 | Felix Sanchez (DOM) | Danny McFarlane (JAM) | Naman Keita (FRA) |
2500 m steeplechase
The first Olympic steeplechase was held in 1900, when the event was on the programme twice, with a 2500 m and a 4000 m variant. Winner George Orton was Canada's first Olympic champion.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | George Orton (CAN) | Sidney Robinson (GBR) | Jacques Chastanié (FRA) |
2590 m steeplechase
The 1904 steeple chase was held over 5 laps of the track, which measured one third of a mile.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 | Jim Lightbody (USA) | John Daly (GBR) | Arthur Newton (USA) |
3000 m steeplechase
The steeplechase distance was standardised at 3000 m in 1920, which has been the distance to present. In 1932, though, the distance run in the final was 3490 m because of a lap counting error. Joe McCluskey would have placed second if the race had finished after 3000 m, but he declined the opportunity of a re-run. Kenyan steeplechasers have won all eight times they have entered during the last ten Olympics (they boycotted the 1976 and 1980 Games). One Volmari Iso-Hollo has won the event twice.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Percy Hodge (GBR) | Patrick Flynn (USA) | Ernesto Ambrosini (ITA) |
| 1924 | Ville Ritola (FIN) | Elias Katz (FIN) | Paul Bontemps (FRA) |
| 1928 | Toivo Loukola (FIN) | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Ove Andersen (FIN) |
| 1932 | Volmari Iso-Hollo (FIN) | Thomas Evenson (GBR) | Joe McCluskey (USA) |
| 1936 | Volmari Iso-Hollo (FIN) | Kalle Tuominen (FIN) | Alfred Dompert (GER) |
| 1948 | Tore Sjöstrand (SWE) | Erik Elmsäter (SWE) | Göte Hagström (SWE) |
| 1952 | Horace Ashenfelter (USA) | Vladimir Kazantsev (URS) | John Disley (GBR) |
| 1956 | Chris Brasher (GBR) | Sándor Rozsnyói (HUN) | Ernst Larsen (NOR) |
| 1960 | Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak (POL) | Nikolay Sokolov (URS) | Semyon Rzhishchin (URS) |
| 1964 | Gaston Roelants (BEL) | Maurice Herriott (GBR) | Ivan Belyayev (URS) |
| 1968 | Amos Biwott (KEN) | Benjamin Kogo (KEN) | George Young (USA) |
| 1972 | Kipchoge Keino (KEN) | Ben Jipcho (KEN) | Tapio Kantanen (FIN) |
| 1976 | Anders Gärderud (SWE) | Bronisław Malinowski (POL) | Frank Baumgartl (GDR) |
| 1980 | Bronisław Malinowski (POL) | Filbert Bayi (TAN) | Eshetu Tura (ETH) |
| 1984 | Julius Korir (KEN) | Joseph Mahmoud (FRA) | Brian Diemer (USA) |
| 1988 | Julius Kariuki (KEN) | Peter Koech (KEN) | Mark Rowland (GBR) |
| 1992 | Matthew Birir (KEN) | Patrick Sang (KEN) | William Mutwol (KEN) |
| 1996 | Joseph Keter (KEN) | Moses Kiptanui (KEN) | Alessandro Lambruschini (ITA) |
| 2000 | Reuben Kosgei (KEN) | Wilson Boit Kipketer (KEN) | Ali Ezzine (MAR) |
| 2004 | Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) | Brimin Kipruto (KEN) | Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN) |
3200 m steeplechase
The steeplechase was held over 3200 m in 1908, before it was standardised to 3000 m twelve years later.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | Arthur Russell (GBR) | Archie Robertson (GBR) | John Eisele (USA) |
4000 m steeplechase
The 1900 4000 m steeplechase was one of the two steeplechase events that year. The event was never held again.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | John Rimmer (GBR) | Charles Bennett (GBR) | Sidney Robinson (GBR) |
4 × 100 m relay
The first Olympic 4 × 100 m relay was held in 1912, since then it has been included at every Olympics. The United States have been the dominant nation in this competition. They have won it 15 times. On the other six occasions, they were disqualified three times (1912 semi-finals, 1960 final, 1988 first round), while in 1980, the Americans boycotted the Olympics. 1996 and 2004 marked the only defeats for the Americans when they were beaten by Canada and Great Britain respectively. Originally, the Americans were also disqualified after the 1948 final, but after the officials studied the film footage of the race, the disqualification was overturned. Only two nations won medals in 1912, as the third nation in the final, Germany, was disqualified.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Great Britain David Jacobs Henry Macintosh Victor d'Arcy William Applegarth | Sweden Ivan Möller Charles Luther Ture Person Knut Lindberg | - |
| 1920 | United States of America Charlie Paddock Jackson Scholz Loren Murchison Morris Kirksey | France René Lorain René Tirard René Mourlon Émile Ali-Khan | Sweden Agne Holmström William Pettersson Sven Malm Nils Sandström |
| 1924 | United States of America Loren Murchison Louis Clarke Frank Hussey Alfred LeConey | Great Britain Harold Abrahams Walter Rangeley William Nichol Lancelot Royle | Netherlands Jan de Vries Jacob Boot Henricus Broos Marinus van den Berge |
| 1928 | United States of America Frank Wykoff James Quinn Charles Borah Henry Russell | Germany Georg Lammers Richard Corts Hubert Houben Helmuth Körnig | Great Britain Cyril Gill Ellis Smoutha Walter Rangeley Jack London |
| 1932 | United States of America Robert Kiesel Emmett Toppino Hector Dyer Frank Wykoff | Germany Helmuth Körnig Friedrich Hendrix Erich Borchmeyer Arthur Jonath | Italy Giuseppe Castelli Ruggero Maregatti Gabriele Salviati Edgardo Toetti |
| 1936 | United States of America Jesse Owens Ralph Metcalfe Foy Draper Frank Wykoff | Italy Orazio Mariani Gianni Caldana Elio Ragni Tullio Gonnelli | Germany Wilhelm Leichum Erich Borchmeyer Erwin Gillmeister Gerd Hornberger |
| 1948 | United States of America Barney Ewell Lorenzo Wright Harrison Dillard Mel Patton | Great Britain John Archer John Gregory Alistair McCorquodale Kenneth Jones | Italy Michele Tito Enrico Perucconi Antonio Siddi Carlo Monti |
| 1952 | United States of America Dean Smith Harrison Dillard Lindy Remigino Andy Stanfield | Soviet Union Boris Tokaryev Levan Kalyayev Levan Sanadze Vladimir Sukharyev | Hungary László Zarándi Géza Varasdi György Csányi Bela Goldoványi |
| 1956 | United States of America Ira Murchison Leamon King Thane Baker Bobby Joe Morrow | Soviet Union Leonid Bartenyev Boris Tokaryev Yuriy Konovalov Vladimir Sukharyev | Germany Lothar Knörzer Leonhard Pohl Heinz Fütterer Manfred Germar |
| 1960 | Germany Bernd Cullmann Armin Hary Walter Mahlendorf Martin Lauer | Soviet Union Gusman Kosanov Leonid Bartenyev Yuriy Konovalov Edvin Ozolinš | Great Britain Peter Radford David Jones David Segal Neville Whitehead |
| 1964 | United States of America Otis Drayton Gerald Ashworth Richard Stebbins Bob Hayes | Poland Andrzej Zieliński Wiesław Maniak Marian Foik Marian Dudziak | France Paul Genevay Bernard Laidebeur Claude Piquemal Jocelyn Delecour |
| 1968 | United States of America Charles Greene Melvin Pender Ronnie Ray Smith Jim Hines | Cuba Hermes Ramírez Juan Morales Pablo Montes Enrique Figuerola | France Gérard Fénouil Jocelyn Delecour Claude Piquemal Roger Bambuck |
| 1972 | United States of America Larry Black Robert Taylor Gerald Tinker Edward Hart | Soviet Union Aleksandr Kornelyuk Vladimir Lovetsky Juris Silovs Valeri Borzov | West Germany Jobst Hirscht Karlheinz Klotz Gerhard Wucherer Klaus Ehl |
| 1976 | United States of America Harvey Glance John Wesley Jones Millard Hampton Steven Riddick | East Germany Manfred Kokot Jörg Pfeifer Klaus-Dieter Kurrat Alexander Thieme | Soviet Union Aleksandr Aksinin Nikolay Kolesnikov Juris Silovs Valeri Borzov |
| 1980 | Soviet Union Vladimir Muravyov Nikolay Sidorov Aleksandr Aksinin Andrey Prokofyev | Poland Krzysztof Zwoliński Zenon Licznerski Leszek Dunecki Marian Woronin | France Antoine Richard Pascal Barré Patrick Barré Hermann Panzo |
| 1984 | United States of America Sam Graddy Ron Brown Calvin Smith Carl Lewis | Jamaica Albert Lawrence Greg Meghoo Don Quarrie Raymond Stewart | Canada Ben Johnson Tony Sharpe Desai Williams Sterling Hinds |
| 1988 | Soviet Union Viktor Bryzgin Vladimir Krylov Vladimir Muravyov Vitaly Savin | Great Britain Elliot Bunney John Regis Michael McFarlane Linford Christie | France Bruno Marie-Rose Daniel Sangouma Gilles Quenehervé Max Moriničre |
| 1992 | United States of America Mike Marsh Leroy Burrell Dennis Mitchell Carl Lewis | Nigeria Oluyemi Kayode Chidi Imoh Olapade Adeniken Davidson Ezinwa | Cuba Andrés Simon Gomez Joël Lamela Joël Isasi Jorge Luis Aguilera |
| 1996 | Canada Robert Esmie Glenroy Gilbert Bruny Surin Donovan Bailey | United States of America Jon Drummond Tim Harden Mike Marsh Dennis Mitchell | Brazil Arnaldo da Silva Robson da Silva Edson Ribeiro André da Silva |
| 2000 | United States of America Jon Drummond Bernard Williams Brian Lewis Maurice Greene | Brazil Vicente de Lima Edson Ribeiro André da Silva Claudinei da Silva | Cuba José Angel Cesar Luis Alberto Pérez Ivan García Freddy Mayola |
| 2004 | Great Britain Jason Gardener Darren Campbell Marlon Devonish Mark Lewis-Francis | United States of America Shawn Crawford Justin Gatlin Coby Miller Maurice Greene | Nigeria Olusoji Fasuba Uchenna Emedolu Aaron Egbele Deji Aliu |
4 × 400 m relay
The 4 × 400 m relay was introduced along with the 4 × 100 m relay in 1912, and has never left the programme. With 15 wins, the United States also dominated this relay event.
1600 m relay
The first relay event to be held at the Olympics, the 1600 m relay consisted of two legs over 200 m, one over 400 m, and one over 800 m. This "medley" relay was replaced by the 4 × 400 m at subsequent Olympics.
3000 m team race
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | United States of America Tell Berna Norman Taber George Bonhag | Sweden Thorild Ohlsson Ernst Wide Bror Fock | Great Britain William Cottrill George Hutson Cyril Porter |
| 1920 | United States of America Horace Brown Arlie Schardt Ivan Dresser | Great Britain Charles Blewitt Albert Hill William Seagrove | Sweden Erik Backman Sven Lundgren Edvin Wide |
| 1924 | Finland Paavo Nurmi Ville Ritola Elias Katz | Great Britain Bernhard McDonald Harry Johnston George Webber | United States of America Edward Kirby William Cox Willard Tibbetts |
3 miles team race
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | Great Britain Joseph Deakin Archie Robertson Wilfred Coales | United States of America John Eisele George Bonhag Herbert Trube | France Louis de Fleurac Joseph Dreher Paul Lizandier |
5000 m team race
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | Amateur Athletic Association (GBR/AUS) Charles Bennett (GBR) John Rimmer (GBR) Sydney Robinson (GBR) Alfred Tysoe (GBR) Stanley Rowley (AUS) | Racing Club de France (FRA) Henri Deloge Gaston Ragueneau Jacques Chastanié André Castanet Emile Champoudry | - |
4 miles team race
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 | New York AC (USA) Arthur Newton George Underwood Paul Pilgrim Howard Valentine David Munson | Chicago AA (USA/FRA) Jim Lightbody (USA) Frank Verner (USA) Lacey Hearn (USA) Albert Corey (FRA) Sidney Hatch (USA) | - |
Cross Country - Individual
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) | Hjalmar Andersson (SWE) | John Eke (SWE) |
| 1920 | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Erik Backman (SWE) | Heikki Liimatainen (FIN) |
| 1924 | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Ville Ritola (FIN) | Earl Johnson (USA) |
Cross Country - Team
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Sweden Hjalmar Andersson John Eke Josef Ternström | Finland Hannes Kolehmainen Jalmari Eskola Albin Stenroos | Great Britain Frederick Hibbins Ernest Glover Thomas Humphreys |
| 1920 | Finland Paavo Nurmi Heikki Liimatainen T |