History
Track and Field was one of the sports that was included in the original Olympiad. It was seen as the perfect simulation of battle as it included running, jumping, throwing, weapons, and the pitting of one man against another. In the modern Olympiad, Track and Field is still viewed as the quintessential event of the games around which everything else is focused.
The Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius which means Faster, Higher, Stronger. This does not mean Faster, Higher, and Stronger than your opponent, simply Faster, Higher, and Stronger. Track and Field has always been the embodiment of this ideal as athletes push themselves to achieve their best result and to finish, even if that does not win them a Gold Medal. One notable instance of this is American Steve Prefontaine's (pictured) 4th place finish in the 1972 Munich 5000 in which he attacked the leaders 3 different times in the last lap and just couldn't quite pull away. Another case occurred in the 400 meter prelims at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Derek Redmond of Great Britain came up short with a pulled muscle on the back stretch and fell to the track. But after a moment he got up and limped/hobbled his way to the finish line which he crossed (with the aid of his father) a short time later. Moments like those are what inspire people to compete in and believe in the Olympics and have become the historical backdrop for the modern athletes and the Olympic Games themselves.
The Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius which means Faster, Higher, Stronger. This does not mean Faster, Higher, and Stronger than your opponent, simply Faster, Higher, and Stronger. Track and Field has always been the embodiment of this ideal as athletes push themselves to achieve their best result and to finish, even if that does not win them a Gold Medal. One notable instance of this is American Steve Prefontaine's (pictured) 4th place finish in the 1972 Munich 5000 in which he attacked the leaders 3 different times in the last lap and just couldn't quite pull away. Another case occurred in the 400 meter prelims at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Derek Redmond of Great Britain came up short with a pulled muscle on the back stretch and fell to the track. But after a moment he got up and limped/hobbled his way to the finish line which he crossed (with the aid of his father) a short time later. Moments like those are what inspire people to compete in and believe in the Olympics and have become the historical backdrop for the modern athletes and the Olympic Games themselves.