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Some 20,629 athletes from 219 country teams have competed in athletics at 28 stagings of the Olympic Games. Currently 953 gold medals have been awarded across 951 events. This total includes 950 regular golds plus three more. An extra gold in the 1908 menfs pole vault where there were two champions, plus the additional two golds awarded posthumously to Jim Thorpe for the 1912 Pentathlon and Decathlon. Excluded from that golds total is one more which was taken back by the IOC, and not redistributed as at June 10, 2016. That is the womenfs 100m of the 2000 Olympic Games. Marion Jones (USA) was disqualified for a doping violation, but the IOC did not pass her medal to the runner-up, Katerina Thanou (GRE) . Included in the total of 952 are golds from three 2012 events where the winner has been disqualified by the IAAF for drug-taking. These events are the menfs 50km Walk and womenfs 1500m & 3000m Steeplechase. As at June 10, 2016, the IOC have not publicly announced any re-allocations of all these medals, though Habiba Ghribi (TUN) already received a gold medal in a special ceremony on June 4, 2016. Another is planned for Jared Tallent (AUS) on June 17, 2016. For the purpose of this book, the winners of those three events . Tallent, Gamze Bulut (TUR) and Ghribi . are shown as the victors on placing tables. The medals and placings of those disqualified are not counted.

The most Games contested by a country in athletics is 28 (all of them, including 1906) by four countries, Australia, France, Great Britain & NI and Greece. Three more countries have missed just one year, Denmark (1904), Sweden (1904) and the United States (1980).

The most individual medals, and also the most gold medals won is 10 by Ray Ewry (USA) at standing jumps events in 1900-1908. He scored 10 wins from 10 starts in the standing high, long and triple jumps, all events which have been discontinued. The women's record is held by Merlene Ottey/Page (JAM) at 100m (three medals) and 200m (four).

The most golds won by a woman is four by six women. Fanny Blankers-Koen (NED) won the 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and 4x100m in 1948. Betty Cuthbert (AUS) won at 100m, 200m and 4x100m in 1956 then took the 400m title in 1964. Bδrbel Eckert/Wφckel (GDR) won at both 200m and 4x100m in 1976 and 1980. Evelyn Ashford (USA) won the 100m and 4x100m in 1984 and went on to take sprint relay golds at the next two Games. In 2012, Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards Ross (both USA) took their fourth golds. Felix won the 4x400m in 2008 and the 200m with both relays in 2012. Richards Ross won the 4x400m in 2004, 2008 and 2012 and also the individual 400m in 2012.

The longest winning streak of Olympic titles at four successive Games is a distinction achieved four times by three men, all from the United States: Ray Ewry succeeded at the standing high and long jumps in 1900, 1904, 1906 and 1908. Al Oerter won the discus throw in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968. Carl Lewis was long jump champion in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996. The best “four Games” sequence by a woman is now held by Derartu Tulu (ETH) with her series of finishes in the 10,000m in 1992-2004 of gold-4th-gold-bronze.

The most golds won at a single Games is five by Paavo Nurmi (FIN) in 1924, with victories at 1500m, 5000m, 3000m team and cross country (individual and team). Four golds at one Games were won by Alvin Kraenzlein (USA) in 1900, Ville Ritola (FIN) in 1924, Jesse Owens (USA) in 1936 and Carl Lewis (USA) in 1984. Fanny Blankers-Koen (NED) was also a quadruple champion in 1948 as noted above.