View source for Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics

{{Short description|2016 Summer Olympics Athletics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox Olympic event
| event       = Athletics
| games       = 2016 Summer
| image       = Athletics, Rio 2016.png
| image_size  = 150
| caption     = 
| venue       = [[Pontal (Rio de Janeiro)|Pontal]] (race walk)<br>[[Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos|Estádio Olímpico João Havelange]]<br>(track & field)<br>[[Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí|Sambódromo]] (marathon)
| dates       = 12–21 August 2016
| competitors = 
| nations     = 
| num_events  = 47
| prev        = [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012]]
| next        = [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2020]]
}}
{{Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics}}

'''Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics''' were held during the last 10 days of the games, from 12 to 21 August 2016, at the [[Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos|Olympic Stadium]]. The [[sport of athletics]] at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] was made into three distinct sets of events: [[track and field]] events, [[road running]] events, and [[racewalking]] events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rio2016.com/en/the-games/olympic/sports/athletics |title=Rio 2016: Athletics |publisher=[[Rio 2016]] |access-date=20 January 2015 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128075609/http://www.rio2016.com/en/the-games/olympic/sports/athletics |archive-date=28 January 2015 }}</ref>

== Competition schedule ==
[[Track and field]] events were held at [[Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos|João Havelange Olympic Stadium]], while the race walks and marathon start and finish in [[Pontal Beach]] in the [[Recreio dos Bandeirantes]] neighbourhood and the [[Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí]], respectively. Apart from the race walks and marathon, ten track and field events held finals in the morning sessions for the first time since [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988]]. This change was implemented upon the request of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee (COJOP Rio 2016) and the [[Olympic Broadcasting Services]] to be supported by the [[International Olympic Committee]], ensuring that at least one final was broadcast live for each of the world's 24 time zones.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hann |first=Michael |title=2016 Olympic Track and Field Schedule Announced |url=http://universalsports.com/2014/12/16/rio-olympics-track-and-field-schedule-announced/ |publisher=[[Universal Sports]] |date=15 December 2014 |access-date=20 January 2015 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121154036/http://universalsports.com/2014/12/16/rio-olympics-track-and-field-schedule-announced/ |archive-date=21 January 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Athletics timetable for Rio 2016 Olympics published|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/press-release/athletics-timetable-rio-2016-olympics|publisher=[[IAAF]]|date=15 December 2014|access-date=20 January 2015}}</ref>

In the tables below, '''M''' stands for ''morning'' and '''A''' for ''afternoon''.

{{Olympic schedule legend|sport=athletics}}
{| class="wikitable olympic-schedule athletics"
|+Ref<ref name=olympic-schedule>{{cite news|last=Zaccardi|first=Nick|title=Rio Olympic track and field schedule released|url=http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/15/rio-olympic-track-and-field-schedule-released/|publisher=[[NBC Sports]]|date=15 December 2014|access-date=20 January 2015}}</ref>
|- style="background:#9acdff;"
!colspan=24 | Men's
|-
! Date || colspan="2"| Aug 12 || colspan="3"|Aug 13 || colspan="3"|Aug 14 || colspan="2"|Aug 15 || colspan="3"|Aug 16 || colspan="2"|Aug 17 || colspan="2"|Aug 18 || colspan="2"|Aug 19 || colspan="2"|Aug 20 || colspan="2"|Aug 21
|-
!Event  || M || A || colspan="2"| M || A || M || colspan="2"| A || M || A || M || colspan="2" | A || M || A || M || A || M || A || M || A || M || A
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100 m]] ||colspan="2"| || class="qualifiers" | Q || class="heats" | H || || || class="semifinals" | ½ || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres|200 m]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H ||colspan="2"| || || class="semifinals" | ½ || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres|400 m]] || || class="heats" | H || colspan="2"| || class="semifinals" | ½  || ||colspan="2" class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 800 metres|800 m]] || class="heats" | H || || colspan="2"| || class="semifinals" | ½ || colspan="3"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m]] ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || || class="semifinals" | ½ || colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000 m]] ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| || class="heats" | H || ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || class="final" | F ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 110 metres hurdles|110 m hurdles]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| || || class="heats" | H || || class="semifinals" | ½ || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres hurdles|400 m hurdles]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| || class="heats" | H || || ||colspan="2" class="semifinals" | ½ || colspan="2"| || class="final" | F || ||colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m steeplechase]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| || class="heats" | H || || colspan="3"| || class="final" | F || ||colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100 m relay]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H || || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;400 m relay]] ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || || class="heats" | H || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|Marathon]] ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="3"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || class="final" | F || 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 20 kilometres walk|20 km walk]] || class="final" | F || ||colspan="3"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 50 kilometres walk|50 km walk]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || class="final" | F || || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump|Long jump]] || || class="qualifiers" | Q || colspan="2"| || class="final" | F || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|Triple jump]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| || class="qualifiers" | Q || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's high jump|High jump]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| || ||colspan="2" class="qualifiers" | Q || colspan="2"| || ||colspan="2" class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault|Pole vault]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || class="qualifiers" | Q || colspan="3"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's shot put|Shot put]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| || class="qualifiers" | Q || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's discus throw|Discus throw]] || class="qualifiers" | Q || ||colspan="2" class="final" | F || ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's javelin throw|Javelin throw]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| || || class="qualifiers" | Q ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's hammer throw|Hammer throw]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| || class="qualifiers" | Q || || colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|Decathlon]] ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="3"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| ||colspan="4" class="final" | F || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|- style="background:#9acdff;"
!colspan=24 | Women's
|-
! Date || colspan="2"| Aug 12 || colspan="3"|Aug 13 || colspan="2"|Aug 14 || colspan="2"|Aug 15 || colspan="2"|Aug 16 || colspan="3"|Aug 17 || colspan="2"|Aug 18 || colspan="2"|Aug 19 || colspan="2"|Aug 20 || colspan="2"|Aug 21
|-
!Event   || M || A || M || colspan="2"| A || M || A || M || A || M || A || M || colspan="2" | A || M || A || M || A || M || A || M || A
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres|100 m]] || class="qualifiers" | Q || class="heats" | H || || class="semifinals" | ½ || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| || || class="heats" | H || || class="semifinals" | ½ || ||colspan="2" class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|400 m]] ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H ||colspan="2"| || || class="semifinals" | ½ || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 800 metres|800 m]] ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H ||colspan="2"| || || class="semifinals" | ½ ||colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 1500 metres|1500 m]] || || class="heats" | H ||colspan="3"| || || class="semifinals" | ½ || colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H || ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]] || class="final" | F || ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres hurdles|100 m hurdles]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H || || || class="semifinals" | ½ || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres hurdles|400 m hurdles]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H ||  || || class="semifinals" | ½ ||colspan="3"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m steeplechase]] ||colspan="2"| || class="heats" | H ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || class="final" | F || ||colspan="2"| ||  colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100 m relay]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| || class="heats" | H || || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4&nbsp;×&nbsp;400 m relay]] ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| || || class="heats" | H || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon|Marathon]] ||colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || class="final" | F || ||colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 20 kilometres walk|20 km walk]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || class="final" | F || || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's long jump|Long jump]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || || class="qualifiers" | Q || ||colspan="2" class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's triple jump|Triple jump]] ||colspan="2"| || class="qualifiers" | Q ||colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's high jump|High jump]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| || class="qualifiers" | Q || || colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's pole vault|Pole vault]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || class="qualifiers" | Q || ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's shot put|Shot put]] || class="qualifiers" | Q || class="final" | F ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's discus throw|Discus throw]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| || || class="qualifiers" | Q || class="final" | F || ||colspan="3"| ||  colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|Javelin throw]] ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="3"| ||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| || || class="qualifiers" | Q || colspan="3"| || || class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's hammer throw|Hammer throw]] || || class="qualifiers" | Q ||colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || class="final" | F || ||colspan="2"| ||  colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|-
| class="event" | [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon|Heptathlon]] ||colspan="5" class="final" | F ||colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| ||  colspan="3"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| || colspan="2"| 
|}

==Qualification==
{{Main|Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Qualification}}

The Olympic qualification criteria were simplified by the [[International Association of Athletics Federations]] (IAAF) from a two-tiered "A" and "B" standard approach to a single qualification standard. Each [[National Olympic Committee]] was entitled to send up to three athletes per event that had reached that standard in the period from 2015 to 11 July 2016. Nations without a qualified athlete could enter one male and one female athlete who had not achieved the standard. Marathon runners had additional ways to qualify in that top 20 World Championship or top 10 IAAF Gold Label race finishers were treated as having achieved the standard.<ref name=iaaf-qual>{{cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org/responsive/download/downloadresultinfo?filename=073d1081-9827-49d2-8058-ac764648ec35.pdf&urlslug=Rio%202016%20Olympic%20Games%20entry%20standards|title=Qualification System – Games of the XXXI Olympiad – ''Athletics''|publisher=[[IAAF]]|access-date=15 July 2016}}</ref>

The [[relay (athletics)|relay]] teams entered were the top eight finishers at the [[2015 IAAF World Relays]] plus the next eight highest ranking teams on the seasonal lists (based on an aggregate of their best two times).<ref>{{cite news|title=IAAF/BTC World Relays: Qualifying Process |url=http://www.bahamasworldrelays.org/index.php/teams/qualifying-process |publisher=[[IAAF World Relays]] |access-date=16 April 2015 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423104224/http://www.bahamasworldrelays.org/index.php/teams/qualifying-process |archive-date=23 April 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Nations with a strong tradition in athletics which had many qualified athletes available for events typically held selection trials to determine their teams (such as the [[2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2016 United States Olympic Trials]]), or relied on panel decisions by their national governing bodies to determine which athletes could compete.

==Daily summaries==
[[File:Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima lights cauldron (28771915476).jpg|thumb|Marathon runner [[Vanderlei de Lima]] lighting the Olympic flame]]
At the [[2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] two figures from the [[sport of athletics]] played a key role: Olympic medallist in the marathon, [[Vanderlei de Lima]], lit the Olympic flame for his home nation, while Kenya's [[Kipchoge Keino]] became the first recipient of the [[Olympic Laurel]] for his efforts in promoting sport.<ref name=Opening>Minshull, Phil (2016-08-06). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/rio-2016-opening-ceremony-lima Marathon runner De Lima lights Olympic flame in Rio]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref> Unlike most Summer Olympic Games, the athletics stadium in Rio was not the venue for the opening or closing ceremonies – that honour went to Brazil's foremost soccer venue, the [[Maracanã Stadium]].<ref>[http://www.vermelho.org.br/noticia/284658-1 Caetano Veloso mandou recado para o mundo: Fora Temer]. Vermelho (2016-08-06). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

===First three days===
On the first day, the first gold medal was won by [[Almaz Ayana]] of Ethiopia, who broke a long-standing [[List of world records in athletics|world record]] in the women's [[10,000 metres]] by almost fifteen seconds. The race as a whole was historically fast, setting four of the five fastest times ever for the distance and seeing eight [[national records in athletics|national records]] broken. China's [[Wang Zhen (racewalker)|Wang Zhen]] was the first male winner of the 2016 Olympic athletics, topping the [[20 kilometres race walk]] podium. With her final throw of the event, [[Michelle Carter (athlete)|Michelle Carter]] won the United States' first ever title in the women's [[shot put]], preventing [[Valerie Adams]] from winning a third straight title. The first half of the [[heptathlon]] saw two athletes set a [[world heptathlon best]]: Belgium's [[Nafissatou Thiam]] and Great Britain's [[Katarina Johnson-Thompson]] both cleared {{T&Fcalc|1.98}} for the [[high jump]].<ref>Sammet, Michelle (2016-08-12). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-olympic-games-ayana-carter-wang Day one in numbers – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref> (Their marks would have been sufficient for the individual high jump gold.)<ref name="iaaf.org">Landells, Steve (2016-08-20). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-olympic-games-women-high-jump Report: women's high jump final – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

[[File:Spcs. Leonard Korir and Shadrack Kipchirchir run 10,000 meters (5).jpg|thumb|left|[[Mo Farah]] leading in the men's 10,000 metres final]]

The second day opened with a first in Olympic history as a man succeeded his brother as Olympic champion. In a dramatic final round, German [[discus throw]]er [[Christoph Harting]] moved up from fourth to gold medal position with a personal best throw and topped the podium as his brother [[Robert Harting]] had four years earlier. [[Mo Farah]] – a double-Olympic champion from 2012 – defended his 10,000&nbsp;m crown in spite of a fall which saw him slip to the back of the pack during the middle of race. Farah had been one of three gold medallists for Great Britain on a "Super Saturday" for the host nation at the 2012 London Games, but the two others of that day did not prevail in Rio de Janeiro. [[Jessica Ennis]] entered as favourite for the Olympic heptathlon but was runner-up to Belgian [[Nafissatou Thiam]] in an upset which saw the 21-year-old add over three hundred points to her personal best score. Defending Olympic [[long jump]] champion [[Greg Rutherford]] was reduced to third place as American [[Jeff Henderson (athlete)|Jeff Henderson]] won the closely fought men's competition. Another defending champion was dethroned in the women's [[100 metres]]: [[Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce]]'s attempt to become the first person to win three straight Olympic track titles was thwarted by Jamaican teammate [[Elaine Thompson]].<ref>Arcoleo, Laura (2016-08-13). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-olympic-games-farah-thompson-thiam Ten things we learned on day two – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

[[File:Vicaut, Bolt, Gatlin Rio 2016.jpg|thumb|[[Usain Bolt]] winning the 100&nbsp;m final]]

The morning final for the third day was the women's [[marathon]], which saw [[Jemima Sumgong]] win Kenya's first Olympic gold medal for that event. The race was unusual in that two sets of twins crossed the line together: North Korea's [[Kim Hye-song (runner)|Kim Hye-song]] and [[Kim Hye-gyong]] took tenth and eleventh while Germans [[Anna Hahner|Anna]] and [[Lisa Hahner]] were 81st and 82nd. Furthermore, Estonia's [[Lily Luik|Lily]], [[Leila Luik|Leila]] and [[Liina Luik]] became the first triplets to feature in an Olympic final. In the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's triple jump|women's triple jump]] [[Caterine Ibargüen]] won Colombia's first Olympic gold medal in athletics. As the first Olympics to be held in South America, Ibargüen became the first Olympic athletics champion from South America to be crowned on South American soil.  Brazil's [[Thiago Braz da Silva]] became the second two days later.  By the conclusion of the Olympics, Ibargüen, [[Yulimar Rojas]] (who finished second to Ibargüen) and da Silva were the only medalists from continental South America.  [[Usain Bolt]] achieved the feat fellow Jamaican Fraser-Pryce had failed to do one day earlier by taking his third straight Olympic 100&nbsp;m title. This made him the most decorated athlete in the [[100 metres at the Olympics]]. South Africa's [[Wayde van Niekerk]] provided the second world record performance of the athletics programme with his win of the men's [[400 metres]] in 43.03 seconds. This knocked 0.15 seconds of [[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]]'s time which had gone unbeaten since 1999.<ref>Sammet, Michelle (2016-08-14). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/day-three-athletics-rio-2016-olympic-games Day three in numbers – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

===Days 4, 5 and 6===
The third and last athletics world record at the Olympics came on day four. Poland's [[Anita Włodarczyk]] was dominant in the [[hammer throw]], becoming the first woman to throw beyond eighty metres three times in a competition and adding over a metre to her own world record with {{T&Fcalc|82.29}}. Four of her six throws would have been sufficient to win. Another record was in sight for [[Ruth Jebet]] in the women's [[3000 metres steeplechase]], though she missed the mark by a second after slowing to celebrate winning Bahrain's first Olympic gold in any sport. In the women's 400&nbsp;m [[Allyson Felix]] was stopped from winning an historic fifth Olympic gold by [[Shaunae Miller]] of the Bahamas, who dove at the line to win the race. Men's [[800 metres]] world record holder [[David Rudisha]] defended his 800&nbsp;m Olympic title, being the first man in over half a century to achieve that. A surprise victory for the hosts came via [[Thiago Braz da Silva]], who added ten centimetres to his previous best to win in an [[List of Olympic records in athletics|Olympic record]] of 6.03&nbsp;m ahead of world record holder [[Renaud Lavillenie]] of France.<ref>Sammet, Michelle (2016-08-16). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-olympic-games-wlodarczyk-miller-braz Day four full of firsts – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref> Departing from Olympic traditions, the home crowd booed Lavillenie while he was attempting his final vault and he was booed again at the medal ceremony after comparing his treatment to that of [[Jesse Owens]] at the [[1936 Summer Olympics]] in Nazi Germany. The partisan treatment was criticised by da Silva, IOC President [[Thomas Bach]] and IAAF president [[Sebastian Coe]], though defended by some as an intrinsic part of Brazilian sporting culture.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37104031 Rio Olympics 2016: Renaud Lavillenie being booed 'shocking' - Thomas Bach]. BBC Sport (2016-08-17). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref><ref>Duarte, Fernando (2016-08-19). [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37133234 Rio Olympics 2016: Why booing of French pole vaulter 'should not be condemned']. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref><ref>Bates, Claire (2016-08-10). [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37026844 Rio Olympics 2016: Six types of Olympic booing]. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

On the fifth morning, Croatia's [[Sandra Perković]] became the only woman to defend an individual Olympic athletics title that year, topping the discus podium. [[Christian Taylor (athlete)|Christian Taylor]] became the only man in the field events to defend his 2012 Olympic title, repeating his American 1–2 finish with teammate [[Will Claye]]. The United States was less successful in the men's [[110 metres hurdles]]: its athletes failed to gain a medal for the first time ever (bar the 1980 boycott) while Jamaican [[Omar McLeod]] won by over a tenth of a second. [[Faith Kipyegon]] was a clear winner in the women's [[1500 metres]] ahead of Ethiopia's [[Genzebe Dibaba]]. [[Derek Drouin]] won Canada's first Olympic gold in athletics in twenty years in the men's high jump.<ref>Arcoleo, Laura (2016-08-17). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-olympic-games-drouin-mcleod-taylor-p Day five in numbers – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref> In the women's 5000&nbsp;m heats American [[Abbey D'Agostino]] and [[Nikki Hamblin]] of New Zealand fell during the race. D'Agostino stopped to help Hamblin to her feet, but then struggled herself with what would be diagnosed as a torn [[anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]], which led Hamblin to help in turn so the pair could finish. The pair were later given the Fair Play award by the [[International Fair Play Committee]] for their show of sportsmanship.<ref>[https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/ioc-fair-play-hamblin-dagostino D’Agostino and Hamblin receive Fair Play awards from CIFP]. IAAF/IOC (2016-08-21). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

[[File:SGT Hillary Bor runs 3K steeplechase at Rio Olympic Games (28429853634).jpg|thumb|[[Conseslus Kipruto]] en route to the steeplechase title]]

In his last Olympic outing, [[Ezekiel Kemboi]] failed to defend his Olympic steeplechase title, which went to his Kenyan teammate [[Conseslus Kipruto]] in an Olympic record time. Kemboi's initial bronze medal would have made him the first person to win three Olympic steeplechase medals, but a single step into the infield later saw him disqualified and [[Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad]] of France achieve that feat in his place. [[Tianna Bartoletta]] beat the favourite in the women's long jump, clearing a personal best of 7.17&nbsp;m in the second to last round to leave her American rival [[Brittney Reese]] with a silver medal. Americans also occupied the top spots in the women's [[100 metres hurdles]] with [[Brianna Rollins]], [[Nia Ali]] and [[Kristi Castlin]] forming the first ever Olympic medal sweep by a nation in that event. The 100&nbsp;m gold medallist Elaine Thompson completed a sprint double for Jamaica by defeating Dutch athlete [[Dafne Schippers]] in the women's [[200 metres]] final. High-profile eliminations came in the men's qualifiers as two strong contenders for Olympic titles, [[Paweł Fajdek]] in the hammer and [[Justin Gatlin]] in the 200&nbsp;m, failed to progress.<ref>Sammet, Michelle (2016-08-18). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-olympic-games-bolt-fajdek-thompson Six surprises from day six – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

===Final three days===
[[File:Bolt conquista tricampeonato também nos 200 metros 1038879-18.08.2016 ffz-8098.jpg|thumb|Bolt with his third 200&nbsp;m victory]]
The [[400 metres hurdles]] finals were contested on day seven: [[Kerron Clement]] won the United States's 19th men's title and in contrast [[Dalilah Muhammad]] became the first American female winner. On a day of strong American performances, [[Ashton Eaton]] defended his [[decathlon]] title in an Olympic record score of 8893 points and in the men's shot put [[Ryan Crouser]] greatly improved his best to {{T&Fcalc|22.52}} to break [[Ulf Timmermann]]'s Olympic record from 1988 (among men's Olympic records, only [[Bob Beamon]]'s long jump had stood for longer).<ref>Minshull, Phil (2016-08-19). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-men-shot-final Report: men's shot put final – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref> The women's [[javelin throw]] had an unexpected winner in Croatia's [[Sara Kolak]], whose winning mark of {{T&Fcalc|66.18}} meant the 21-year-old had improved her best by over eight metres that year. The favourite delivered in the men's 200&nbsp;m, with Usain Bolt taking his third straight [[200 metres at the Olympics|Olympic 200&nbsp;m title]] by a margin of a quarter of a second. The women's [[4 × 100 metres relay]] heats featured the first ever re-run – Brazil has obstructed the American baton handover and the United States were allowed a solo run to qualify for the final on time, which they did.<ref>Sammet, Michelle (2016-08-18). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-bolt-eaton Day seven in numbers – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

[[File:Provas de Atletismo nas Olimpíadas Rio 2016 (29004556542).jpg|thumb|left|The American team after winning 4 × 100 m relay gold]]

The morning of the penultimate day began with two [[racewalking]] finals. In the men's 50&nbsp;km walk [[Matej Tóth]] overtook defending champion [[Jared Tallent]] to win Slovakia's first Olympic gold in athletics while [[Liu Hong (racewalker)|Liu Hong]] returned China to the top of the women's 20&nbsp;km walk podium. [[Katerina Stefanidi]] of Greece won the women's pole vault after the pre-event favourites faltered. [[Dilshod Nazarov]] made history in the men's hammer throw by becoming [[Tajikistan at the Olympics|Tajikistan's first Olympic gold medallist]]. [[Vivian Cheruiyot]] achieved a first for her country in the women's [[5000&nbsp;metres]] by outrunning 10,000&nbsp;m champion Almaz Ayana to take Kenya's first ever gold in the distance event. In that race, Cheruiyot set the last of eight Olympic records in Rio. The 4 × 100&nbsp;m finals delivered new highs for Olympic athletics. The American women overcame their qualification troubles by winning from uncomfortable lane one, making Allyson Felix the most successful female Olympian in athletics at five gold medals. Usain Bolt anchored the Jamaican men to the gold to complete a set of three consecutive victories across the 100&nbsp;m, 200&nbsp;m and relay (referred to as a "treble treble"). Bolt equalled [[Carl Lewis]] and [[Paavo Nurmi]]'s record of nine Olympic gold medals in athletics.<ref>Arcoleo, Laura (2016-08-19). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-olympic-games-bolt-stefanidi-cheruiy Eight things we learned on day eight – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref><ref>Abrahamson, Alan (2016-08-20). [http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/abrahamson-usain-bolt-completes-three-pack-three-peat Abrahamson: Usain Bolt completes the three-pack three-peat]. NBC Olympics. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

[[File:Provas de Atletismo nas Olimpíadas Rio 2016 (28491025163).jpg|thumb|[[Vivian Cheruiyot]] celebrating Kenya's first 5000&nbsp;m women's title]]

On the ninth and final day of action in the track and field stadium, [[Matthew Centrowitz Jr.]] secured a tactical win in the men's 1500&nbsp;m while [[Caster Semenya]] used her sheer speed to win the women's 800&nbsp;m. Behind her [[Francine Niyonsaba]] won only the second ever medal for [[Burundi at the Olympics]]. In the women's high jump, [[Ruth Beitia]] became Spain's inaugural female Olympic gold medalist in athletics, though this was overshadowed by the fact her winning mark was the lowest since 1980 and she was outperformed by two heptathletes in Rio.<ref name="iaaf.org"/> [[Thomas Röhler]] cleared ninety metres to win the men's javelin throw. Mo Farah became the second most successful track athlete of the 2016 Rio Olympics by defending his 5000&nbsp;m title, making him one of only two men alongside Finland's [[Lasse Virén]] to have defended both long-distance titles at consecutive Olympics. In the last track events of the games, the United States won the men's and women's [[4 × 400 metres relay]]s. The women's victory gave Allyson Felix the distinction of setting a medals record for women's Olympic athletics; six gold medals and nine medals overall.<ref>Arcoleo, Laura (2016-08-20). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-olympic-games-farah-rohler-beitia The last few moments of stadium action at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref> In the closing competition of the Olympics, [[Eliud Kipchoge]] of Kenya comfortably won the [[marathon]] by the largest margin since 1972.<ref>Minshull, Phil (2016-08-22). [https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/rio-2016-men-marathon Report: men's marathon – Rio 2016 Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref> The runner-up [[Feyisa Lilesa]] of Ethiopia made a political protest by crossing his arms near the finish line in solidarity with the [[2016 Ethiopian protests|Oromo killed in protests]] that year and later suggested he would seek asylum.<ref>[http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/08/bravest-olympian-rio-ethiopias-feyisa-lilesa-speaks-killings-oromo-protesters-ethiopia-earning-olympic-silver-marathon/ The Bravest Olympian in Rio — Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa Risks Death But Speaks Out About Killings of Oromo Protesters in Ethiopia After Earning Olympic Silver in Marathon]. Lets Run (2016-08-21). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

The United States won the most medals in athletics and at thirteen golds and 32 overall they won more than double the next most successful nations. In the absence of Russia, Kenya and Jamaica placed second and third with six gold medals and were the other nations to win more than ten medals in total. In the 2016 Olympic athletics programme, 141 medals were awarded and 43 nations reached the medal table.

==Medal summary==

===Medal table===

;Key
{{Color box|#ccccff|&nbsp;<nowiki>*</nowiki>&nbsp;|border=darkgray}} Host nation (Brazil)

{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = 
 | flag_template  = flagIOC
 | event          = 2016 Summer
 | team           = 
 | gold_USA = 13 | silver_USA = 10 | bronze_USA = 9
 | gold_KEN = 6 | silver_KEN = 6 | bronze_KEN = 1
 | gold_JAM = 6 | silver_JAM = 3 | bronze_JAM = 2
 | gold_CHN = 2 | silver_CHN = 2 | bronze_CHN = 2
 | gold_RSA = 2 | silver_RSA = 2 | bronze_RSA = 0
 | gold_GBR = 2 | silver_GBR = 1 | bronze_GBR = 4
 | gold_CRO = 2 | silver_CRO = 0 | bronze_CRO = 1
 | gold_GER = 2 | silver_GER = 0 | bronze_GER = 1
 | gold_ETH = 1 | silver_ETH = 2 | bronze_ETH = 5
 | gold_CAN = 1 | silver_CAN = 1 | bronze_CAN = 4
 | gold_POL = 1 | silver_POL = 1 | bronze_POL = 1
 | gold_BRN = 1 | silver_BRN = 1 | bronze_BRN = 0
 | gold_ESP = 1 | silver_ESP = 1 | bronze_ESP = 0
 | gold_BAH = 1 | silver_BAH = 0 | bronze_BAH = 1
 | gold_BEL = 1 | silver_BEL = 0 | bronze_BEL = 0
 | gold_BRA = 1 | silver_BRA = 0 | bronze_BRA = 0 | host_BRA = yes 
 | gold_COL = 1 | silver_COL = 0 | bronze_COL = 0
 | gold_GRE = 1 | silver_GRE = 0 | bronze_GRE = 0
 | gold_SVK = 1 | silver_SVK = 0 | bronze_SVK = 0
 | gold_TJK = 1 | silver_TJK = 0 | bronze_TJK = 0
 | gold_FRA = 0 | silver_FRA = 3 | bronze_FRA = 3
 | gold_ALG = 0 | silver_ALG = 2 | bronze_ALG = 0
 | gold_NZL = 0 | silver_NZL = 1 | bronze_NZL = 3
 | gold_AUS = 0 | silver_AUS = 1 | bronze_AUS = 1
 | gold_JPN = 0 | silver_JPN = 1 | bronze_JPN = 1
 | gold_BLR = 0 | silver_BLR = 1 | bronze_BLR = 0
 | gold_BUL = 0 | silver_BUL = 1 | bronze_BUL = 0
 | gold_BDI = 0 | silver_BDI = 1 | bronze_BDI = 0
 | gold_DEN = 0 | silver_DEN = 1 | bronze_DEN = 0
 | gold_GRN = 0 | silver_GRN = 1 | bronze_GRN = 0
 | gold_MEX = 0 | silver_MEX = 1 | bronze_MEX = 0
 | gold_NED = 0 | silver_NED = 1 | bronze_NED = 0
 | gold_QAT = 0 | silver_QAT = 1 | bronze_QAT = 0
 | gold_VEN = 0 | silver_VEN = 1 | bronze_VEN = 0
 | gold_CUB = 0 | silver_CUB = 0 | bronze_CUB = 1
 | gold_CZE = 0 | silver_CZE = 0 | bronze_CZE = 1
 | gold_HUN = 0 | silver_HUN = 0 | bronze_HUN = 1
 | gold_KAZ = 0 | silver_KAZ = 0 | bronze_KAZ = 1
 | gold_SRB = 0 | silver_SRB = 0 | bronze_SRB = 1
 | gold_TTO = 0 | silver_TTO = 0 | bronze_TTO = 1
 | gold_TUR = 0 | silver_TUR = 0 | bronze_TUR = 1
 | gold_UKR = 0 | silver_UKR = 0 | bronze_UKR = 1
}}

===Men===
{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event|columns=2}}
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|100 metres|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Usain Bolt]]|JAM|2016 Summer}} || 9.81
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Justin Gatlin]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 9.89
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Andre De Grasse]]|CAN|2016 Summer}} || 9.91
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|200 metres|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Usain Bolt]]|JAM|2016 Summer}} || 19.78
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Andre De Grasse]]|CAN|2016 Summer}} || 20.02
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Christophe Lemaitre]]|FRA|2016 Summer}} || 20.12
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|400 metres|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Wayde van Niekerk]]|RSA|2016 Summer}} || 43.03 {{AthAbbr|WR|Men's 400 metres}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Kirani James]]|GRN|2016 Summer}} || 43.76
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[LaShawn Merritt]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 43.85
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|800 metres|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[David Rudisha]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 1:42.15
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Taoufik Makhloufi]]|ALG|2016 Summer}} || 1:42.61 {{AthAbbr|NR|Algerian}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Clayton Murphy]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 1:42.93
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|1500 metres|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Matthew Centrowitz Jr.]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 3:50.00
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Taoufik Makhloufi]]|ALG|2016 Summer}} || 3:50.11
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Nick Willis]]|NZL|2016 Summer}} || 3:50.24
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|5000 metres|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Mo Farah]]|GBR|2016 Summer}} || 13:03.30
|  {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Paul Chelimo]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 13:03.90
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Hagos Gebrhiwet]]|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 13:04.35
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|10,000 metres|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Mo Farah]]|GBR|2016 Summer}} || 27:05.17
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Paul Tanui]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 27:05.64
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Tamirat Tola]]|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 27:06.26
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|110 metres hurdles|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Omar McLeod]]|JAM|2016 Summer}} || 13.05
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Orlando Ortega]]|ESP|2016 Summer}} || 13.17
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Dimitri Bascou]]|FRA|2016 Summer}} || 13.24
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|400 metres hurdles|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Kerron Clement]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 47.73
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Boniface Tumuti]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 47.78 {{AthAbbr|NR|Kenyan}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Yasmani Copello]]|TUR|2016 Summer}} || 47.92 {{AthAbbr|NR|Turkish}}
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|3000 metres steeplechase|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Conseslus Kipruto]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 8:03.28 {{AthAbbr|OR|Men's 3000 metres steeplechase}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Evan Jager]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 8:04.28
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad]]|FRA|2016 Summer}} || 8:11.52
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|4 × 100 metres relay|Men}}
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|JAM|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Asafa Powell]]<br>[[Yohan Blake]]<br>[[Nickel Ashmeade]]<br>[[Usain Bolt]]<br>[[Jevaughn Minzie]]*<br>[[Kemar Bailey-Cole]]*|| 37.27
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|JPN|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Ryota Yamagata]]<br>[[Shota Iizuka]]<br>[[Yoshihide Kiryu]]<br>[[Asuka Cambridge]]|| 37.60 {{AthAbbr|AR|Asian}}
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|CAN|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Akeem Haynes]]<br>[[Aaron Brown (sprinter)|Aaron Brown]]<br>[[Brendon Rodney]]<br>[[Andre De Grasse]]<br>[[Bolade Ajomale]]*|| 37.64 {{AthAbbr|NR|Canadian}}
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|4 × 400 metres relay|Men}}
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|USA|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Arman Hall]]<br>[[Tony McQuay]]<br>[[Gil Roberts]]<br>[[LaShawn Merritt]]<br>[[Kyle Clemons]]*<br>[[David Verburg]]*|| 2:57.30
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|JAM|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Peter Matthews (sprinter)|Peter Matthews]]<br>[[Nathon Allen]]<br>[[Fitzroy Dunkley]]<br>[[Javon Francis]]<br>[[Rusheen McDonald]]*|| 2:58.16
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|BAH|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Alonzo Russell (sprinter)|Alonzo Russell]]<br>[[Michael Mathieu]]<br>[[Steven Gardiner]]<br>[[Chris Brown (sprinter)|Chris Brown]]<br>[[Stephen Newbold]]*|| 2:58.49
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Marathon|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Eliud Kipchoge]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 2:08:44
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Feyisa Lilesa]]|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 2:09:54
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Galen Rupp]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 2:10:05
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|20 kilometres walk|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Wang Zhen (racewalker)|Wang Zhen]]|CHN|2016 Summer}} || 1:19:14
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Cai Zelin]]|CHN|2016 Summer}} || 1:19:26
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Dane Bird-Smith]]|AUS|2016 Summer}} || 1:19:37
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|50 kilometres walk|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Matej Tóth]]|SVK|2016 Summer}} || 3:40:58
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Jared Tallent]]|AUS|2016 Summer}} || 3:41:16
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Hirooki Arai]]|JPN|2016 Summer}} || 3:41:24
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|High jump|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Derek Drouin]]|CAN|2016 Summer}} || 2.38 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Mutaz Essa Barshim]]|QAT|2016 Summer}} || 2.36 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Bohdan Bondarenko]]|UKR|2016 Summer}} || 2.33 m
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Pole vault|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Thiago Braz da Silva]]|BRA|2016 Summer}} || 6.03 m {{AthAbbr|OR|Men's pole vault}}, {{AthAbbr|AR|South American}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Renaud Lavillenie]]|FRA|2016 Summer}} || 5.98 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Sam Kendricks]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 5.85 m
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Long jump|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Jeff Henderson (athlete)|Jeff Henderson]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 8.38 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Luvo Manyonga]]|RSA|2016 Summer}} || 8.37 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Greg Rutherford]]|GBR|2016 Summer}} || 8.29 m
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Triple jump|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Christian Taylor (athlete)|Christian Taylor]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 17.86 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Will Claye]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 17.76 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Dong Bin]]|CHN|2016 Summer}} || 17.58 m
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Shot put|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Ryan Crouser]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 22.52 m {{AthAbbr|OR|Men's shot put}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Joe Kovacs]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 21.78 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Tomas Walsh]]|NZL|2016 Summer}} || 21.36 m
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Discus throw|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Christoph Harting]]|GER|2016 Summer}} || 68.37 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Piotr Małachowski]]|POL|2016 Summer}} || 67.55 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Daniel Jasinski]]|GER|2016 Summer}} || 67.05 m
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Hammer throw|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Dilshod Nazarov]]|TJK|2016 Summer}} || 78.68 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Ivan Tsikhan]]|BLR|2016 Summer}} || 77.79 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Wojciech Nowicki]]|POL|2016 Summer}} || 77.73 m
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Javelin throw|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Thomas Röhler]]|GER|2016 Summer}} || 90.30 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Julius Yego]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 88.24 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Keshorn Walcott]]|TTO|2016 Summer}} || 85.38 m
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Decathlon|Men}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Ashton Eaton]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 8893 pts {{AthAbbr|OR|Decathlon}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Kévin Mayer]]|FRA|2016 Summer}} || 8834 pts {{AthAbbr|NR|French}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Damian Warner]]|CAN|2016 Summer}} || 8666 pts
|}

<small><nowiki>*</nowiki> Indicates the athlete only competed in the preliminary heats and received medals.</small>

===Women===
{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event|columns=2}}
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|100 metres|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Elaine Thompson]]|JAM|2016 Summer}} || 10.71
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Tori Bowie]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 10.83
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce]]|JAM|2016 Summer}} || 10.86
|-
| {{EventLink|200 metres|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Elaine Thompson]]|JAM|2016 Summer}} || 21.78
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Dafne Schippers]]|NED|2016 Summer}} || 21.88
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Tori Bowie]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 22.15
|-
| {{EventLink|400 metres|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Shaunae Miller-Uibo|Shaunae Miller]]|BAH|2016 Summer}} || 49.44
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Allyson Felix]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 49.51
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Shericka Jackson]]|JAM|2016 Summer}} || 49.85
|-
| {{EventLink|800 metres|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Caster Semenya]]|RSA|2016 Summer}} || 1:55.28 {{AthAbbr|NR|South African}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Francine Niyonsaba]]|BDI|2016 Summer}} || 1:56.49
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Margaret Wambui]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} ||  1:56.89
|-
| {{EventLink|1500 metres|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Faith Kipyegon]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 4:08.92
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Genzebe Dibaba]]|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 4:10.27
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Jennifer Simpson]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 4:10.53
|-
| {{EventLink|5000 metres|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Vivian Cheruiyot]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 14:26.17 {{AthAbbr|OR|Women's 5000 metres}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Hellen Onsando Obiri]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 14:29.77
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Almaz Ayana]]|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 14:33.59
|-
| {{EventLink|10,000 metres|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Almaz Ayana]]|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 29:17.45 {{AthAbbr|WR|Women's 10,000 metres}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Vivian Cheruiyot]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 29:32.53 {{AthAbbr|NR|Kenyan}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Tirunesh Dibaba]]|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 29:42.56
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-
| {{EventLink|100 metres hurdles|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Brianna Rollins-McNeal|Brianna Rollins]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 12.48
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Nia Ali]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 12.59
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Kristi Castlin]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 12.61
|-
| {{EventLink|400 metres hurdles|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Dalilah Muhammad]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 53.13
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Sara Petersen (hurdler)|Sara Petersen]]|DEN|2016 Summer}} || 53.55 {{AthAbbr|NR|Danish}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Ashley Spencer (athlete)|Ashley Spencer]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 53.72
|-
| {{EventLink|3000 metres steeplechase|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Ruth Jebet]]|BRN|2016 Summer}} || 8:59.75 {{AthAbbr|AR|Asian}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Hyvin Jepkemoi]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 9:07.12
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Emma Coburn]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 9:07.63 {{AthAbbr|AR|North, Central American and Caribbean}}
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|4 × 100 metres relay|Women}}
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|USA|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Tianna Bartoletta]]<br>[[Allyson Felix]]<br>[[English Gardner]]<br>[[Tori Bowie]]<br>[[Morolake Akinosun]]*|| 41.02
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|JAM|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Christania Williams]]<br>[[Elaine Thompson]]<br>[[Veronica Campbell-Brown]]<br>[[Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce]]<br>[[Simone Facey]]*<br>[[Sashalee Forbes]]*|| 41.36
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|GBR|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Asha Philip]]<br>[[Desirèe Henry]]<br>[[Dina Asher-Smith]]<br>[[Daryll Neita]]|| 41.77 {{AthAbbr|NR|British}}
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|4 × 400 metres relay|Women}}
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|USA|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Courtney Okolo]]<br>[[Natasha Hastings]]<br>[[Phyllis Francis]]<br>[[Allyson Felix]]<br>[[Taylor Ellis-Watson]]*<br>[[Francena McCorory]]* || 3:19.06
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|JAM|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Stephenie Ann McPherson]]<br>[[Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby]]<br>[[Shericka Jackson]]<br>[[Novlene Williams-Mills]]<br>[[Christine Day]]*<br>[[Chrisann Gordon]]* || 3:20.34
| valign=top|{{flagIOCteam|GBR|2016 Summer}}<br>[[Eilidh Doyle]]<br>[[Anyika Onuora]]<br>[[Emily Diamond]]<br>[[Christine Ohuruogu]]<br>[[Kelly Massey]]* || 3:25.88
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Marathon|Women}}
|{{flagIOCmedalist|[[Jemima Sumgong]]|KEN|2016 Summer}} || 2:24:04
|{{flagIOCmedalist|[[Eunice Kirwa]]|BRN|2016 Summer}} || 2:24:13
|{{flagIOCmedalist|[[Mare Dibaba]]|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 2:24:30
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|20&nbsp;kilometres walk|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Liu Hong (racewalker)|Liu Hong]]|CHN|2016 Summer}} || 1:28:35
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[María Guadalupe González]]|MEX|2016 Summer}} || 1:28:37
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Lü Xiuzhi]]|CHN|2016 Summer}} || 1:28:42
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-
| {{EventLink|High jump|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Ruth Beitia]]|ESP|2016 Summer}} || 1.97 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Mirela Demireva]]|BUL|2016 Summer}} || 1.97 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Blanka Vlašić]]|CRO|2016 Summer}} || 1.97 m 
|-
| {{EventLink|Pole vault|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Ekaterini Stefanidi]]|GRE|2016 Summer}} || 4.85 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Sandi Morris]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 4.85 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Eliza McCartney]]|NZL|2016 Summer}} || 4.80 m {{AthAbbr|NR|New Zealand}}
|-
| {{EventLink|Long jump|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Tianna Bartoletta]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 7.17 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Brittney Reese]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 7.15 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Ivana Španović]]|SRB|2016 Summer}} || 7.08 m {{AthAbbr|NR|Serbian}}
|-
| {{EventLink|Triple jump|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Caterine Ibargüen]]|COL|2016 Summer}} || 15.17 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Yulimar Rojas]]|VEN|2016 Summer}} || 14.98 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Olga Rypakova]]|KAZ|2016 Summer}} || 14.74 m
|-
| {{EventLink|Shot put|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Michelle Carter (athlete)|Michelle Carter]]|USA|2016 Summer}} || 20.63 m {{AthAbbr|NR|United States}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Valerie Adams]]|NZL|2016 Summer}} || 20.42 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Anita Márton]]|HUN|2016 Summer}} || 19.87 m {{AthAbbr|NR|Hungarian}}
|-
| {{EventLink|Discus throw|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Sandra Perković]]|CRO|2016 Summer}} || 69.21 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Mélina Robert-Michon]]|FRA|2016 Summer}} || 66.73 m {{AthAbbr|NR|French}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Denia Caballero]]|CUB|2016 Summer}} || 65.34 m
|-
| {{EventLink|Hammer throw|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Anita Włodarczyk]]|POL|2016 Summer}} || 82.29 m {{AthAbbr|WR|Women's hammer throw}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Zhang Wenxiu]]|CHN|2016 Summer}} || 76.75 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Sophie Hitchon]]|GBR|2016 Summer}} || 74.54 m {{AthAbbr|NR|British}}
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Javelin throw|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Sara Kolak]]|CRO|2016 Summer}} || 66.18 m {{AthAbbr|NR|Croatian}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Sunette Viljoen]]|RSA|2016 Summer}} || 64.92 m
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Barbora Špotáková]]|CZE|2016 Summer}} || 64.80 m
|-bgcolor=#DDDDDD
|colspan=7|
|-valign="top"
| {{EventLink|Heptathlon|Women}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Nafissatou Thiam]]|BEL|2016 Summer}}||6810 pts {{AthAbbr|NR|Belgian}}
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Jessica Ennis-Hill]]|GBR|2016 Summer}}||6775 pts
| {{flagIOCmedalist|[[Brianne Theisen-Eaton]]|CAN|2016 Summer}}||6653 pts
|}

<small><nowiki>*</nowiki> Indicates the athlete only competed in the preliminary heats and received medals.</small>

==Records==

===World and Olympic records===
{{see also|World and Olympic records set at the 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Event !! Date !! Name !! Nationality !! Result !! Type
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres|Women's 10,000 metres]] || 12 August
| {{sortname|Almaz|Ayana}} ||{{flagIOC|ETH|2016 Summer}} || align=center|{{sort|291745|29:17.45 min}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|WR|10,000 metres}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres|Men's 400 metres]] || 14 August
| {{sortname|Wayde|van Niekerk}} ||{{flagIOC|RSA|2016 Summer}} || align=center|{{sort|004303|43.03 sec}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|WR|Men's 400 metres}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's hammer throw|Women's hammer throw]] || 15 August
| {{sortname|Anita|Włodarczyk}} ||{{flagIOC|POL|2016 Summer}} || align=center|{{sort|004303|82.29 m }} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|WR|Women's hammer throw}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault|Men's pole vault]] || 15 August
| {{sortname|Thiago|Braz da Silva}} ||{{flagIOC|BRA|2016 Summer}} || align=center|{{sort|004303|6.03 m }} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|OR|Men's pole vault}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|Men's 3000 metres steeplechase]] || 17 August
| {{sortname|Conseslus|Kipruto}} ||{{flagIOC|KEN|2016 Summer}} || align=center|{{sort|080328|8:03.28 min}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|OR|Men's 3000m steeplechase}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's shot put|Men's shot put]] || 18 August
| {{sortname|Ryan|Crouser}} ||{{flagIOC|USA|2016 Summer}} || align=center|{{sort|004303|22.52 m }} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|OR|Men's shot put}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|Men's decathlon]] || 18 August
| {{sortname|Ashton|Eaton}} ||{{flagIOC|USA|2016 Summer}} || align=center|{{sort|004303|8893 pts }} || align=center|={{AthAbbr|OR|Men's decathlon}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|Women's 5000 metres]] || 19 August
| {{sortname|Vivian|Cheruiyot}} ||{{flagIOC|KEN|2016 Summer}} || align=center|{{sort|291745|14:26.17 min}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|OR|Women's 5,000 metres}}
|}

===Continental records===
The women's 10,000 metres provided the first two continental records of the Olympics, in Almaz Ayana's African record and [[Molly Huddle]]'s record for the North, Central American and Caribbean region.<ref>[https://www.iaaf.org/competitions/olympic-games/the-xxxi-olympic-games-5771/records/broken Records broken at Rio de Janeiro 2016 The XXXI Olympic Games]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-14.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Event !! Date !! Name !! Nationality !! Result !! Type
|-
|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres|Women's 10,000 metres]] || 12 August
| {{sortname|Almaz|Ayana}} ||{{flagIOC|ETH|2016 Summer}} || 29:17.45 min || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|African}}
|-
|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres|Women's 10,000 metres]] || 12 August
| {{sortname|Molly|Huddle}} ||{{flagIOC|USA|2016 Summer}} || 30:13.17 min || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|North, Central American and Caribbean}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres|Men's 400 metres]] || 14 August
| {{sortname|Wayde|van Niekerk}} ||{{flagIOC|RSA|2016 Summer}} || {{sort|004303|43.03 sec}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|African}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 metres steeplechase]] || 15 August
| {{sortname|Ruth|Jebet}} ||{{flagIOC|BRN|2016 Summer}} || {{sort|004303|8:59.75 min}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|Asian}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 metres steeplechase]] || 15 August
| {{sortname|Emma|Coburn}} ||{{flagIOC|USA|2016 Summer}} || {{sort|004303|9:07.63 min}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|North, Central American and Caribbean}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's hammer throw|Women's hammer throw]] || 15 August
| {{sortname|Anita|Włodarczyk}} ||{{flagIOC|POL|2016 Summer}} || {{sort|004303|82.29 m}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|European}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|Men's 4 × 100 m relay]] || 18 August
| [[Tang Xingqiang]]<br>[[Xie Zhenye]]<br>[[Su Bingtian]]<br>[[Zhang Peimeng]] ||{{flagIOC|CHN|2016 Summer}} || {{sort|004303|37.82 sec}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|Asian}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|Men's 4 × 100 m relay]] || 18 August
| [[Ryota Yamagata]]<br>[[Shota Iizuka]]<br>[[Yoshihide Kiryu]]<br>[[Asuka Cambridge]] ||{{flagIOC|JPN|2016 Summer}} || {{sort|004303|37.68 sec}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|Asian}}
|-
| [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|Men's 4 × 100 m relay]] || 19 August
| [[Ryota Yamagata]]<br>[[Shota Iizuka]]<br>[[Yoshihide Kiryu]]<br>[[Asuka Cambridge]] ||{{flagIOC|JPN|2016 Summer}} || {{sort|004303|37.60 sec}} || align=center|{{AthAbbr|AR|Asian}}
|}

==Participation==

===Participating nations===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
{{div col end}}
[[Russia at the 2016 Summer Olympics|Russia's]] athletics team was banned from competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics on June 17, 2016, when the [[International Association of Athletics Federations|IAAF]] voted unanimously to prevent them from competing. This punishment is because of the ongoing [[Doping in Russia#June 2016|Russian doping scandal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/18/sports/olympics/russia-barred-rio-summer-olympics-doping.html|title=Russia's Track and Field Team Barred From Rio Olympics|date=18 June 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/sports/olympics/ioc-russia-ban-rio-track-and-field.html|title=Olympic Officials Back Ban on Russian Track Team From Rio Games|date=19 June 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=22 July 2016}}</ref> [[Darya Klishina]] was the only Russian athlete allowed to participate.

The [[Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics|Refugee Olympic Team]], in its first appearance, included six track and field athletes among it 10-strong team.<ref name=Opening/>

<div class="center" >
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Participating [[:Category:Nations at the 2016 Summer Olympics|National Olympic Committees]]
|-
| {{div col|colwidth=17em}}
* {{flagIOC|AFG|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ALB|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ALG|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ASA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|AND|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ANG|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ANT|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ARG|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ARM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|AUS|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|AUT|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|AZE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BAH|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BRN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BAN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BAR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BLR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BEL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BIZ|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BEN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BER|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BOL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BIH|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BOT|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BRA|2016 Summer}} '''(host)'''
* {{flagIOC|IVB|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BRU|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BUL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BUR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BDI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CAM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CMR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CAN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CPV|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CAY|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CAF|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CHA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CHI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CHN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TPE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|COL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|COM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CGO|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|COK|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CRC|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CRO|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CUB|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CYP|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CZE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|COD|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|DEN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|DJI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|DMA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|DOM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ECU|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|EGY|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ESA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GEQ|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ERI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|EST|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ETH|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|FSM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|FIJ|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|FIN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|FRA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GAB|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GAM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GEO|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GER|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GHA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GBR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GRE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GRN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GUM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GUA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GUI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GBS|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GUY|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|HAI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|HON|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|HKG|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|HUN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ISL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|IOA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|IND|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|INA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|IRI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|IRL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ISR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ITA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CIV|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|JAM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|JPN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|JOR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KAZ|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KEN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KIR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KOS|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KGZ|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LAO|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LAT|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LIB|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LES|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LBR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LBA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LTU|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LUX|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MKD|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MAD|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MAW|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MAS|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MDV|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MLI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MLT|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MHL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MTN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MRI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MEX|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MDA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MON|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MGL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MNE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MAR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MOZ|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MYA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NAM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NEP|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NED|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NZL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NCA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NIG|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NGR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PRK|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NOR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|OMA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PAK|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PLW|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PLE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PAN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PNG|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PAR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PER|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PHI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|POL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|POR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PUR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|QAT|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ROT|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|RUS|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ROU|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|RWA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SKN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LCA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|VIN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SAM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SMR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|STP|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KSA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SEN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SRB|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SEY|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SLE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SIN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SVK|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SLO|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SOL|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SOM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|RSA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KOR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SSD|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ESP|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SRI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SUD|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SUR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SWZ|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SWE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SUI|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SYR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TJK|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TAN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|THA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TLS|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TOG|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TON|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TTO|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TUN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TUR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TKM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TUV|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|UGA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|UKR|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|UAE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|USA|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|URU|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|UZB|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|VEN|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|VIE|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ISV|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|YEM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ZAM|2016 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ZIM|2016 Summer}}
{{div col end}}
|}
</div>

===Competitors===
{{Further|Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Qualification#Track events}}

==Doping==
{{Main|Doping in Russia}}
[[File:Darya Klishina Gôteborg 2013.jpg|thumb|Russian [[Darya Klishina]]]]
The Olympic athletics competition was majorly affected by the ban of the [[All-Russia Athletic Federation]] (ARAF) by the sports governing body, the [[International Association of Athletics Federations]] (IAAF). The IAAF undertook this action to exclude all Russian athletes following the discovery of state-sponsored [[doping in Russia]].<ref>[https://www.iaaf.org/news/press-release/rusaf-suspension-and-reinstatement-timeline Key moments – RusAF suspension and reinstatement process ]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-12.</ref> The Russian President accused the body of discrimination against his country's athletes, saying the ban was a "collective punishment which has nothing to do with justice". The Russian Minister for Sport, [[Vitaly Mutko]], was directly implicated in the investigations.<ref>Rumsby, Ben (2016-07-27). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2016/07/27/vladimir-putin-accuses-iaaf-of-blatant-discrimination-over-russi/ Vladimir Putin accuses IAAF of 'blatant discrimination' over Russia Olympics ban]. ''Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved on 2016-08-12.</ref>

The members of Russia's 68-strong team were allowed to appeal the ban and compete under a neutral flag if they could present evidence that they did not have links with the doping scandal and received testing independent of the Russian national anti-doping body. Only one athlete, long jumper [[Darya Klishina]], met the criteria and was allowed to compete. The IOC rejected the idea of Russian athletes competing under a neutral flag, and allowed Klishina to compete under a Russian flag. Her selection garnered negative press in her home country.<ref>Balmforth, Tom (2016-07-14). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/13/russian-athlete-competing-under-a-neutral-flag-at-the-olympics-branded-a-traitor Russian athlete branded a 'traitor' over plans to compete under neutral flag in Rio]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved on 2016-08-12.</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sport-doping-athletics-russia-idUSKCN0ZQ04B Russian jumper Klishina cleared to compete as neutral athlete]. Reuters. Retrieved on 2016-08-12.</ref> The situation led pole vaulter [[Yelena Isinbayeva]], one of Russia's top athletes, to announce her intention to stand for ARAF President to resolve the crisis.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-russia-isinbayeva-idUSKCN10M0KX Athletics: Isinbayeva to run for ARAF chief]. Reuters (2016-08-11.</ref>

[[File:Yuliya Rusanova Istanbul 2012.jpg|thumb|left|Doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova was not allowed to compete]]
[[Yuliya Stepanova]], a Russian runner who was key in unveiling the doping issue through her whistleblowing, attempted to gain permission from the [[International Olympic Committee]] to compete at the Games as an independent athlete, but was unsuccessful on the basis of her having previously failed a doping test. Her husband and coach Vitaly Stepanov, who also acted as whistleblower, said that the decision sent "a message that the World Anti-Doping Code and the values of Olympism are merely words on a page".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36992847 Rio 2016: Russian whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova will not contest ban]. BBC Sport (2016-08-05). Retrieved 2016-08-12.</ref> The couple's actions were widely denounced in Russia, with the president's spokesman labelling the couple as "Judas".<ref>Rowbottom, Mike (2016-07-03). [http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1039093/yulia-stepanova-is-she-a-judas-or-is-she-an-olympic-hero Yulia Stepanova - is she a "Judas?" Or is she an "Olympic hero"? ]. Inside the Games. Retrieved on 2016-08-12.</ref> Stepanova received strong support from [[Travis Tygart]], the head of the [[United States Anti-Doping Agency]], who approved of her application to compete.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sport-doping-russia-stepanova-idUSKCN0ZH41X Stepanova eligible to compete as independent: IAAF]. Reuters (2016-07-01). retrieved on 2016-08-12.</ref>

[[Silvia Danekova]] of Bulgaria was the first athletics doping suspension at the Olympics, as the sample she had given on arrival was positive for [[Erythropoietin|EPO]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37055298 Rio Olympics 2016: Bulgarian Silvia Danekova fails drugs test]. BBC Sport (2016-08-12). Retrieved on 2016-08-12.</ref> Two Kenyan officials were also sent home on doping points: coach John Anzrah impersonated runner [[Ferguson Rotich]] to give a doping control and Michael Rotich was expelled following allegations of forewarning athletes of unannounced drug tests.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37053928 Rio Olympics 2016: Kenyan coach John Anzrah sent home after posing as athlete]. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2016-08-12.</ref>

==Officiating decisions==
The judgement of track officials came under scrutiny at the 2016 Summer Olympics as a result of several unusual and contested decisions. Torrential rain began before the heats of the men's [[110 metres hurdles]] but the decision was made for the competition to continue. The hurdlers fared poorly, many clattering hurdles, and the session was postponed after two races. The remaining three heats were done in clear weather and all four fastest non-qualifier spots for the semi-finals came from those heats. Upon protest, the track officials allowed the eight non-qualifiers of the first two heats to run yet another heat to try to achieve the time – an unprecedented move. Jamaica's [[Deuce Carter]] forced Serbia's [[Milan Ristić (athlete)|Milan Ristić]] out of the semi-finals as a result.<ref>Eisenberg, Jeff (2016-08-16). [https://sports.yahoo.com/news/jamaican-hurdler-second-chance-000000283.html Why a Jamaican hurdler got a controversial second chance to rerun his race]. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

[[File:Sgt. Hillary Bor runs 3,000-meter steeplechase at Rio Olympic Games photos by Tim Hipps, U.S. Army IMCOM Public Affairs (28974467631).jpg|thumb|250px|[[Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad]] of France (centre) controversially won a medal on appeal]]

In the men's high jump Great Britain's [[Robbie Grabarz]] rattled the bar at 2.33&nbsp;m – the judge raised the white flag, but the bar fell off the standards immediately after and a red flag was instead raised. The Briton protested the decision and the jump was allowed to stand due to the premature white flag.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37102952 Rio Olympics 2016: Derek Drouin wins high jump gold, Robbie Grabarz misses out]. [[BBC Sport]] (2016-08-17). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref> The British team suffered reversed fortunes before the officials in the men's [[4 × 400 metres relay]]. The team were the winners of their heat but were disqualified as a track side judge noted that part of [[Matthew Hudson-Smith]]'s foot was outside of red-marked baton change over zone when he started his run. Great Britain appealed the decision but because no conclusive video evidence could be found to inform the appeal, the judge's decision stood and the team were disqualified.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37146826 Rio Olympics 2016: Martyn Rooney watches video of {{nowrap|4 × 400 m}} relay disqualification for first time]. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

In the men's steeplechase, the original bronze medallist [[Ezekiel Kemboi]] saw disqualification for narrowly stepping over the track line after being bunched out at the water jump. [[Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad]] noticed this and, finishing over three seconds in arrears to the Kenyan, celebrated his fourth position by raising three fingers. His appeal was successful and he became the first man to win three Olympic steeplechase medals, which Kemboi had himself expected to achieve. Kemboi had announced his retirement upon finishing third, but after the disqualification change his mind to seek to rectify the matter, saying "I have to bring back this medal not by protesting again but right on track. Kemboi is not retired I will be coming to London 2017 to re-claim my medal from France. No limits."<ref>Johnson, Robert (2016-08-17). [http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/08/olympic-debacle-french-forgotten-olympics-supposed-ezekiel-kemboi-dqd-mens-steeple-protest/ Olympic Debacle: The French Have Forgotten What The Olympics Are Supposed To Be About – Ezekiel Kemboi DQ'd From Men's Steeple After Protest]. Lets Run. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref><ref>[http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/08/outrageous-french-protest-got-disqualified-ezekiel-kemboi-quickly-unretires-will-coming-london-2017-re-claim-medal-france-no-limits/ After The Outrageous French Protest Got Him Disqualified, Ezekiel Kemboi Quickly Unretires: “I will be coming to London 2017 to re-claim my medal from France. No limits.”]. Lets Run (2016-08-18). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150128075609/http://www.rio2016.com/en/the-games/olympic/sports/athletics Official 2016 Olympics athletics webpage]
* [https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitioninfo/f0e8eb10-cb01-490a-ad69-e9b16a355816.pdf IAAF 2016 Olympics Statistics Book]
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826074236/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics |date=26 August 2016 |title=Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics (Rio2016.com)}}
* {{SR/Olympics sport at games}}
* [https://library.olympic.org/Default/digitalCollection/DigitalCollectionAttachmentDownloadHandler.ashx?parentDocumentId=165312&documentId=165326 Results Book – Athletics]

{{2016 in athletics}}
{{Events at the 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{Athletics at the Summer Olympics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 2016 Summer Olympics}}
[[Category:Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics| ]]
[[Category:2016 Summer Olympics events]]
[[Category:2016 in athletics (track and field)|Olympic Games]]
[[Category:Athletics at the Summer Olympics|2016]]
[[Category:International athletics competitions hosted by Brazil|2016 Olympics]]
[[Category:Doping in Russia]]