Distances at the Olympic Games. Running disciplines. History of sprinting

Running history

The first Olympic competitions BC were held only in running. According to legend, the first Olympic Games were organized by Hercules in 1210 BC. e. From 776 BC e. records were kept about the Olympic games that were held only in running one stage (192 m). In 724 BC e. Two-stage competitions have been added. In 720 BC e. a race of seven stages was added and, as an example to the winner, athletes began to compete naked, this was facilitated by the culture of society which extolled tanned athletic bodies. Women of childbearing age were not allowed to participate in the games; only men competed in running.

Running and running competitions are known in the history of Homo sapiens at all times, on all continents, of all peoples, starting with Homo sapiens. These are the physical exercises that were necessary for girls ancient Greece, for the birth of healthy children. (Aristotle wrote about this, criticizing legislation that does not oblige parents to play sports with girls)

Running is the simplest, most accessible and physiological sport. It would seem that it could be simpler - put it on sports uniform, sneakers, go to the park or stadium and run for health. However, this simple approach often results in overwork, injury and frustration for beginners.

Gordon Pirie

For effective training, you need not only the right equipment, but also some technical preparedness. Thus, running technique, correct calculation of training intensity, frequency of training, proper nutrition and even shoes.

Secrets of Runners' Success

Do you want to run effectively, feel the joy of exercise, and avoid injuries? A famous athlete will reveal to you all the wisdom of running. Gordon Peary in his book “Run Fast and Without Injury.” Multiple British champion at various running distances, Olympic medalist and famous record holder shares his sports experience, recommendations for building training program, secrets of preparing and restoring the body, nuances of running techniques and competitive strategies.

This book will be useful not only for beginner runners, but also professional athletes who want to eliminate obstacles on the path to victories, increase the level of training and achieve high results.

Way to success

Gordon Peary, born in 1931 in Britain, began his sports career in 1948. That year, Emil Zatopek won the Olympics in London. It was his achievements that prompted Gordon Pirie to begin active running training. And the result was not long in coming.

Gordon Peary

The beginning of the 50s was marked for Piri by a whole series of victories and records. In 1951, at a distance of 6 miles, he set a record, which he himself updated over the next two years, twice (28 minutes, 19.4 seconds).

The next “fruitful” year for success in Gordon Peary’s career was 1953. The National Cross Country Championships brought him the title of winner, and records at distances of 5000 meters (14 min 02.6 sec) and 10000 meters (result 29 min 17.2 sec). In addition, he became the winner and record holder in the 3 mile run, and also set a world record in the 4x1500 meter relay. He followed that up with a victory in the 1 mile, where Gordon beat American athlete Wes Santee in 4:06.8, demonstrating the breadth of his running ability. By the way, Piri became the winner of the British National Cross-Country Championship three times.

Strong rivals are a reason to work on yourself

1956 was a successful but difficult year for Gordon Pirie. In the race, held on June 19 in Bergen, Peary set a new world record at a distance of 5000 meters, covering this distance in 13 minutes 36.8 seconds. At the same time, he improved his previous own record by 25 seconds and overtook his main rival, the famous Vladimir Kuts, by 3 seconds. And three days later a new victory followed - Piri ran 3000 meters in 7 minutes 55.6 seconds.

Gordon Peary

The confrontation between Vladimir Kuts and Gordon Pirie continued at the Olympic Games in Melbourne. In the 10,000m, Pirie and Kutz initially set a very high pace, but several powerful bursts exhausted the British athlete, resulting in Kutz reaching the top of the podium with a result of 28.45.6. Piri came only eighth. But failure did not break the runner.

Piri took into account his mistakes and five days later, in the 5000-meter race, he chose a different tactic. True, the championship again remained with Kuts (as did the next Olympic record - 13 minutes 39.86 seconds). But Gordon came second, showing a result of 13:50.78.

Sports centenarian

Gordon Pirie is a real long-liver in sports. 13 years into his career, he was still setting records. Gordon Pirie celebrated his tenth anniversary in the 3 mile race in 1961 with a new British record of 3 miles in 13 minutes 16.4 seconds.

Sports centenarian

Leaving professional sports didn't make him give up running. He took part in amateur races for a long time and continued his daily training. For many famous athletes Pirie became a coach and mentor.

His career lasted a total of about 45 years and ended, as befits a true athlete, with a record. During his life, he ran 240,000 miles, getting into the pages of the Guinness Book of Records with this achievement.

Gordon Pirie died of cancer in 1991. But his book “Run Fast and Without Injury” remains to this day one of the best running guides for both amateurs and professional athletes.

Gordon Peary's running rules

1. running with correct technique cannot cause injury
2. running is a sequence of jumps landing on the front of the foot, with the leg bent at the knee
3. When landing, the foot should be directly under the center of gravity of the body
4. everything you put on your body impairs your running technique
5. the speed at which you exercise will be your running speed
6. walking is bad for running
7. running step frequency – from 3 to 5 per second
8. arm strength and leg strength should be proportional
9. correct posture is critical for running, do not lean forward
10. speed destroys stamina, stamina destroys speed
11. Only one training program is suitable for each runner - one that reflects his unique characteristics
12. Static flexibility exercises lead to injuries
13. Mouth breathing is mandatory as running is an aerobic exercise

Steeplechase as a species athletics originated in England. The first competitions were held in 1837 in Rugby. Steeplechase debuted at the Olympic Games in 1900 in Paris. Medals were played at two distances - 2500 m (champion D. Orton(Canada) - 7.34,4 ) and 4000 m ( D. Rimmer(Great Britain) - 12.58,4 ). The 3000 m steeplechase was run for the first time at the VII Olympic Games in Antwerp (Belgium), where an Englishman became the Olympic champion P.Hodge (10.04,0 ). For a long time, Finnish runners excelled in steeplechase. The first champion to run the distance faster than 10 minutes ( 9.54,2 ), in 1922 became P. Nurmi. At the last four pre-war games (from 1924 to 1936), Finnish steeplechasers won 9 out of 12 medals. They became Olympic champions V. Rittola, T.Loukola And V.Iso-Hollo(twice). However, the Swede was the first to overcome the 9-minute mark E. Elmsetter in 1944 ( 8.59,6 ). Since 1968, the Olympics have been won by representatives of Kenya (with the exception of 1976 and 1980, when Kenya refused to participate in the Olympic Games), and in 1992 in Barcelona, ​​athletes from this country occupied the entire podium. Became Olympic champions A.Bivott(1968, 8.51,02 ), K. Keino(1972, 8.23,64 ), D. Korir(1984, 8.11,80 ), D.Kariuki(1988, 8.05,51 ), M.Birir(1992, 8.08,94 ), D. Keter(1996, 8.07,12 ), R.Kosgei(2000, 8.21,43 ), E.Kemboi(2004, 8.05,81 ). The first to break the 8-minute barrier B.Barmasai(Kenya) in 1997 ( 7.55,72 ). IN last years XX century The 3000 m steeplechase race for women began to be held. However, due to the fact that this discipline for women was not included in the program of the Olympic Games, World and European Championships, the results were low. In 2005, at the World Championships, medals were awarded for the first time in women's steeplechase, which served as a good incentive for the growth of results. Steeplechase is one of the most difficult types of athletics, requiring from athletes not only endurance, but also strong technical skills - the ability to overcome obstacles set along the distance in conditions of increasing fatigue. In each lap of the 3000m steeplechase, the runner overcomes five obstacles, one of which is particularly difficult (a water pit). There are 35 obstacles along the entire distance, so only by achieving rational technique can you gain a significant amount of time. In running, all obstacles on the track are overcome by the athlete with one, and more often with two legs, which makes it easier to choose where to place the leg before attacking the barrier. “Attacking” an obstacle is of great importance for rationally overcoming it. The best place to place a foot in front of an obstacle is 130-185 cm. If an athlete runs close to an obstacle, then he cannot actively move the pelvis and swing leg forward, so the overall center of gravity moves over the obstacle along a steeper trajectory. When taking off farther in front of an obstacle, the flight phase increases, which makes landing behind the obstacle more difficult and reduces the speed when dismounting. Length last step before pushing off onto an obstacle, it should be slightly less than the length of the previous ones, which is achieved by actively bringing the hips together in the flight phase and more quickly placing the leg at the place of the push, and this, in turn, reduces the braking effects of the ground reaction force. Lengthening the last step in front of an obstacle increases braking effects, since the leg is placed far ahead of the projection of the general center of gravity. When pushing off onto an obstacle, the steeplechaser’s torso moves forward, and the bent swing leg is carried forward and upward by the knee. As the pelvis moves forward, the pushing leg extends. At the final moment of push-off, the torso and pushing leg form a close to straight line. Extension of the swing leg in knee joint occurs the moment the knee reaches the level of the obstacle. To maintain balance, the hand opposite the swing leg is sent forward. In an unsupported position, the swing leg straightens at the knee joint, the torso leans forward even more, the pushing leg bends, is pulled towards the torso and is carried somewhat sideways over the obstacle. At this time, the hand opposite the swing leg moves down and back, slightly towards the pushing leg. When leaving the barrier, the tilt of the body gradually decreases, and the steeplechaser lands on the forefoot. During landing, the runner assumes a position similar to the position at the moment of “attack”. When steeplechasers run up to an obstacle in a large group, it is difficult to accurately get to the take-off point; sometimes it is more economical to use the “advancing” method of overcoming. It is less time efficient, but more economical in terms of energy costs. Unlike the strongest runners, all low-skilled steeplechasers have a drop in running speed 10-12 m before the obstacle due to determining the right place to push off onto the barrier. This is especially noticeable among steeplechasers with undeveloped visual calculation, among those who constantly overcome obstacles with one leg. The obstacle in the form of a hole with water is the most difficult along the distance. Steeplechasers usually overcome a hole with water using the “stepping” method, although recently many have overcome it without support in the first laps of the distance. There are several opinions about the most rational way to overcome a water hole. Some experts believe that you need to push off from the ground with your weakest leg and place your strongest leg on the obstacle in order to quickly overcome the hole with water and jump further. But most often, steeplechasers push off from the ground with their usual foot, and place their weakest foot on the obstacle, landing in the hole on their strongest foot. This does not knock them out of their usual rhythm, and landing on their strongest leg allows them to start running more quickly after overcoming an obstacle. There are steeplechasers who can equally successfully overcome both ordinary obstacles and a pit with water using both legs. This allows you to run up to an obstacle without changing the rhythm of your steps or running speed.

Previously, it was believed that a runner should push off as hard as possible from the barrier and then land in a hole of water. In this case, athletes bring their swing leg far forward and, when landing, bump into it, dampening the horizontal speed. Currently, steeplechasers often land 60-70 cm before the edge of the pit and quickly move to a two-support position, making the first step short. This allows you to maintain a high running speed. The decrease in speed after overcoming a hole with water is significant. Steeplechasers of the highest ranks reach the speed they gained before the obstacle 7-8 m after overcoming the water hole.

The technique of running at a distance between obstacles does not differ from the technique of running on long distances. The differences in the structure of cross-country and hurdles are:

• the position of the shin at the moment of placing the foot on the track when running between obstacles and in front of obstacles;
• changes in the take-off angle when running between obstacles and at the moment of overcoming an obstacle;
• the position of the lower leg when placing the foot while running between obstacles and at the moment of landing behind the obstacle;
• the duration of the flight phase in running between obstacles and when overcoming obstacles. The smaller the difference in flight time during normal running and when overcoming an obstacle, the better technology runner.

Some kinematic characteristics depend on the level of sportsmanship and reflect technical readiness athlete; others are not related to individual characteristics and the level of sportsmanship. These include: the tilt of the torso at the moment of vertical, at the moment of running between obstacles, the position of the shin when placing the leg, the position of the leg when pushing off onto the obstacle, the distance from the place where the leg was placed to the barrier.

Athlete running high class It is distinguished by freedom and ease of movement, which is achieved thanks to rational technique. Particularly important in the 3000 m steeplechase is the technique of overcoming barriers and water holes. Due to this, you can significantly improve the result. Estimate technical skill A runner can be measured by the difference in speed between a smooth 3000 m run and a 3000 m steeplechase run (for the strongest runners it is 25-28 s).

The technical training of a steeplechaser is closely related to physical training.

With the growth of sportsmanship and physical fitness the technique is stabilizing, but changes are observed in the kinematic characteristics of hurdle running:

• the angle of foot placement increases after overcoming an obstacle (for runners of the III and II categories - 83.78 ± 1.58°; masters of sports - 87.00 ± 4.14°);
• the support time when “attacking” barriers is reduced, respectively, from 197.42 ± 12.14 to 164.26 ± 12.50 ms;
• the flight time over the obstacle is reduced accordingly from 554.42 ± 20.81 to 460.21 ± 38.54 ms;
• the distance between the upper obstacle bar and the hip joint decreases, respectively, from 51.68 ± 6.49 to 33.11 ± 5.91 cm;

the loss of time when overcoming an obstacle is reduced, respectively, from 112.89 ± 10.71 to 95.47 ± 10.68 ms.

Running on short distances (sprint), characterized by the performance of short-term work of maximum intensity. Short-distance running includes distances of 60, 100, 200 and 400 m. In England, the USA, Australia and some other countries, sprint competitions are held at distances of 100, 220 and 440 yards, respectively 91.44, 201.17 and 402, 34 m.

Sprint running, like many types of lung athletics, was revived in the 19th century. The first Olympic Games of modern times were held in Greece at the Athens stadium on April 5-14, 1896. Sprinting at these competitions was represented by two distances - 100 and 400 m for men. An athlete from the USA became the winner in both distances. T. Burke (12,0 And 54.2 s). At the II Olympic Games (Paris, 1900), two more sprint distances were added - 60 and 200 m. At these competitions, all sprint distances were won by US athletes (60 m - E.Krenzlein (7.0 s); 100 m - F. Jarvis (11.0 s); 200 m - D. Tewksbury (22.2 s); 400 m - M.Long (49.4 s). Since the IV Olympic Games (London, 1908), the 60 m race was no longer included in the competition program. American sprinter achieves outstanding results in sprint D. Owen, winner of the XI Olympic Games in Berlin (1936) in the 100 and 200 m race ( 10,3 And 20.7 s). The world record he set in the 100 m race ( 10.2 s) lasted 20 years.

Despite the convincing victories of American athletes in short-distance running, the first track and field athlete to show a result in the 100 m race 10.0 s, became an athlete from Germany A.Hari(1960), in the 200 m race the result 20.0 s was shown in 1966 T. Smith(USA). In the 400 m race, 44.0 with the first overcame L.Evans in 1968 - 43.8 s.

To long (stayers) include distances from 3000 to 20,000 m inclusive. At all times, running has occupied a significant place both in the athletics program of the Olympic Games and in the system physical education progressive countries. Already the program of the ancient Olympic Games included long-distance running (up to 24 stages - 4614 m).

During the period of feudalism in the most developed countries of Western Europe, long-distance running, along with other physical exercise, was part of the knight training system.

In a capitalist society, a great incentive for the development of running was the need for good physical training warriors During this period, long-distance running became increasingly popular not only in the army, but also among the civilian population. IN sports clubs and clubs he was given a significant place. Since 1845, running competitions have been constantly held in England, and since 1874, athletics matches between Cambridge and Oxford universities have been systematically organized. Since 1875, similar competitions began to be held between American colleges. Thus, university sport has become an important link in the development of long-distance running. The most outstanding runners of the late XIX-XX centuries. were the Englishmen W. Jordan, A. Robinson and A. Shrubb.

At the beginning of the 20th century. the first world records were registered at classical long distances for men: 5000 m - 15.01.2 (A. Robinson, Great Britain, 09.13.1908, Stockholm, Sweden); 10000 m - 31.02.4 (A. Shrubb, Great Britain, 5.11.1904, Glasgow, Northern Ireland).

The inclusion of long-distance running in the men's athletics program of the modern Olympic Games has been a powerful impetus for improving results at these distances. For the first time at the modern Olympic Games, a long distance of 5 miles (8046.57 m) for men was held in London in 1908. In the classic long distances of 5000 and 10,000 m, men competed for the first time at the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912.

The first Olympic champion in running these distances was H. Kolekhmainen: 5000 m - 14.36.6; 10000 m - 31.20.8 s. At that time, the results shown were both Olympic and world records.

Progress in long-distance running came to a halt in 1914 as a result of the outbreak of the First World War.

From the 1920s to the 1940s, largely thanks to the efforts of Finnish runners, a rapid increase in results at distance distances began. The most prominent figure of those times in long-distance running was the Finnish runner P. Nurmi, who set 25 world records at distances from 1,500 to 20,000 m.

Second World War led to another stagnation of results. Only G. Hegg, a representative of Sweden, which was not involved in hostilities, managed to repeatedly improve world records. In 1942, for the first time in the world at a distance of 5000 m, he showed a result of 13.58.2 s.

From the 1940s to the early 1960s, intense competition in long-distance running developed between representatives of the English, Czech, Hungarian, Soviet, and somewhat later New Zealand and Australian running schools. World records and Olympic victories belonged to the most famous representatives of these schools: the English G. Piri, K. Chataway and B. Tallo, the Czech E. Zatopek, the Hungarians S. Iharos, L. Tabori, I. Rozhaveldi and I. Kovacs, the Soviet runners V. Kuts and P. Bolotnikov, New Zealander M. Halberg and Australian R. Clark. These achievements became possible thanks to outstanding coaches: the Englishman F. Stampfl, the Hungarian M. Igloy, the Soviet coach G. Nikiforov and the New Zealander A. Lydiard.

Achievements to be noted Soviet school long-distance running from the 1950s to the mid-1960s. During these years, the Soviet stayers V. Kuts and P. Bolotnikov, who won the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games, played a leading role on the world stage. races at three long distances out of four. During the same period, they repeatedly improved world and Olympic records at distances of 5000-10,000 m. Some results were far ahead of their time. Thus, the winning result of V. Kuts at the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 at a distance of 5000 m - 13.39.6, set on a slow cinder track, was an Olympic record for 16 years. It was beaten by L. Viren at the Olympic Games in 1972 in Montreal, when fast synthetic tracks appeared.

During this period, representatives of the African continent began to appear on the world athletics scene. The first harbingers of the “African revolution” in long-distance running were K. Keino and I. Temu (Kenya), M. Wolde (Ethiopia) and M. Gammoudi (Tunisia), winners and medalists of the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.

The 1970s marked a new era for Finnish runners. In the pre-war years, the Finns achieved their last significant success at the 1936 Olympic Games, when in the 5000 m race representatives of Finland took 1st and 2nd places (G. Heckert, L. Lähtinen), and in the 10,000 m race the entire the pedestal was Finnish (I. Salminen, A. Askola, V. Iso-Hollo). After a 35-year break, the era of the Finns begins again. Thus, from 1971 to 1978, out of eight stayer distances of two European Championships and two Olympic Games, seven were won by Finns (European Championship 1971 J. Vää-tainen - 5000 and 10,000 m, Olympic Games 1972 and 1976 L. Viren 5000 and 10,000 m, European Championship 1978 M. Vainio 10,000 m). The secret of the success of the Finnish stayers in these years was that in 1968 the New Zealand coach A. Lydiard began working there. His methodological concepts, combined with a comprehensive plan for reorganizing the work of Finnish athletics, were the basis for the outstanding success of Finnish runners during this period.

In subsequent years, right up to the present day, thanks to the efforts of African runners, there has been a constant improvement in results in long-distance running. World records and gold medals at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 in both long distances belonged to representatives of Africa.

Women's stayer running has more short story. At classic distance distances, world records for women began to be recorded relatively recently: 5000 m - 15.24.6 (E. Sipatova, 06/09/1981, Podolsk, USSR), 10,000 m - 31.53.3 (M. Slaney, 07/16/1982, Eugene , USA).

The 5000 m distance for women was first included in the Olympic Games program in 1996 in Atlanta (USA), and the 10,000 m distance in 1988 in Seoul (South Korea).

In a relatively short period of time, competition in these types of running has intensified significantly.

To extra longAll distances over 20,000 m are included. The classic ultra-long distance is the marathon - 42,195 m (26.2 miles). Distances longer than a marathon are usually called ultramarathons.

Of all the variety of ultra-long distances, in addition to the marathon, which was included in the program of the Olympic Games from the very first modern games, it is worth highlighting the distances at which the World and European Championships are held: half marathon - 21,097.5 m (13.1 miles) and ultra marathon distances- 100 km run and daily run.

No other sport attracts such a huge number of participants from a variety of different backgrounds to its competitions. age groups. For example, in recent years in New York Marathon More than 30 thousand runners of different ages will start.

The popularity of ultra-long distance running is due to the following factors: the relative simplicity of the technique, the low cost of equipment, the ability to conduct training and competitions in the absence of expensive special facilities and equipment, strong healing effect. One of the most important factors is the heroic origin story of the main classic marathon distance.

No other sport in general, and athletics in particular, has such an ancient and exciting history as marathon running. In 490 BC. e. the Persians intended to expand their territory and conquer Europe. They landed near Athens in the Marathon Valley and prepared for battle. The Persian troops significantly outnumbered the Athenian troops. The Athenian generals decided to turn to the soldiers of Sparta for help. The time before the start of the battle was limited, so they decided to send one of the toughest warriors, a professional runner named Filipidis, to Sparta for help. The distance of 225 km passed through very mountainous terrain. It took the Athenian warrior about 36 hours to cover this distance. Sparta agreed to help the Athenian army, but for religious reasons they could only fight after the full moon period had passed. This meant that they would not be able to help the Athenians in the upcoming battle. Filipidis traveled 225 km from Sparta to the village of Marathon and reported disappointing news. As a result, the Athenian troops were forced to engage in an unequal battle against the Persians. The number of Athenian warriors was almost 4 times less than their opponents. However, the Persians lost about 6,400 soldiers in the battle. The losses of the Athenians amounted to only 192 soldiers.

The remnants of the Persian troops retreated to the sea and headed on ships to the south of Athens with the aim of attacking the city. To convey the good news of the victory over the Persians and warn the townspeople about the approach of Persian ships to Athens, Filipidis had to set off again, but now to Athens. From the village of Marathon it was about 40 km. With incredible efforts, Filipidis managed to overcome the fatigue from the previous forced march and battle. It took him more than three hours to deliver the message. Exhaustion reached its limit, and the brave warrior-runner, having demonstrated miracles of endurance, soon died.

Many centuries later, at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, marathon running competitions for men were held for the first time in Athens. The marathon distance differed from the currently accepted one and was 40 km, or 24.85 miles.

The result of the first Olympic champion in this type of program, the Greek S. Louis, was 2:58.50

In 1908, at the fourth Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed and reached the classic distance of 42,195 m (26.2 miles). This was the distance from Windsor Palace (where the Olympic marathon started) to the Royal Box (from where the royal family wished to watch the finish of the marathon).

Heated discussions lasted 16 years before the distance of 42,195 m, or 26.2 miles, was approved as the official marathon distance at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. (For comparison, the length of the marathon distance at the Olympic Games was: in 1896 - 40,000 m, in 1900 - 40,260 m, in 1904 - 40,000 m, in 1908 - 42,195 m, in 1912 - 40,200 m, in 1920 - 42,750 m.)

The first world record in marathon running for men was registered on August 21, 1908 (2:55.18, D. Hayes, USA). Over 94 years, through the efforts of 13 countries, the world record was improved by more than 50 minutes.

Women's marathon. The first world achievements in the women's marathon, by modern standards, were very modest. The women's marathon has a shorter duration than the men's marathon. Olympic history. It was included in the program of the Olympic Games in 1984 in Los Angeles (USA).

The result of the first Olympic champion in women's marathon running, American D. Benoit, was 2:24.52.

Despite the fact that women competed for the first time in olympic marathon, they immediately showed very good results. For comparison: the result of the first Olympic champion D. Benoit in 1984 was the second result in the world in the entire history of the women's marathon. At the same time, he was slightly inferior to the results of men. Interestingly, the result shown first Olympic champion D. Benoit, was better than thirteen out of twenty Olympic results men in the period from 1896 to 1984. This became possible due to the fact that even before inclusion in the Olympic program, the women's marathon was quite popular and women marathon runners were already using advanced training methods adopted in the practice of training male marathon runners.

The first registered world record in women's marathon running belongs to W. Piercy, Great Britain (3:40.22, 10/03/1926, Chiswick).

Modern middle distance running originated in England in the 18th century. For men, the 800 and 1500 m running was included in the program of the First Olympic Games of our time. Women first competed in the 800m at the Olympic Games in 1928. This distance was then removed from the Games until 1960.

In pre-revolutionary Russia, the results in middle distance running for men lagged behind the level of world achievements: 800 m - 2.00.3, 1500 m - 4.12.9 (I. Willemson, Riga, 1917). Among women, the highest achievement was recorded only in the 800 m run - 3.20.2 (Milyum, Riga, 1913).

World records, except for the result of J. Kratahvilova (Czech Republic) in the 800 m of 1.53.28 (1983), tend to increase and amount to 3.50.46 s in the women's 1500 m run - Tsu Yunsna (PRC); in the men's 800 m run - 1.41.11 with U. Kipketer (Denmark), in the 1500 m - 3.26.00 with I. El Guerouja (Morocco).

Short distance running (sprint), characterized by performing short-term work of maximum intensity. Short-distance running includes distances of 60, 100, 200 and 400 m. In England, the USA, Australia and some other countries, sprint competitions are held at distances of 100, 220 and 440 yards, respectively 91.44, 201.17 and 402, 34 m.

The history of sprinting begins with the ancient Olympic Games (776 BC). At that time, two distances were very popular - a stade run (192.27 m) and two stages. The running was carried out on separate tracks and consisted of heats and a final; participants in the heats and tracks were distributed by drawing lots. The run started at special team. Athletes who started early were punished with canings or sentenced to a fine. The Olympic Games were held separately for women. They consisted of one type - running over a distance equal to 5/6 of the length of the stadium (160.22 m).

Sprinting, like many types of athletics, was revived in the 19th century. The first Olympic Games of modern times were held in Greece at the Athens stadium on April 5-14, 1896. Sprinting at these competitions was represented by two distances - 100 and 400 m for men. The winner in the race at both distances was the athlete from the USA T. Burke (12.0 and 54.2 s). At the II Olympic Games (Paris, 1900), two more sprint distances were added - 60 and 200 m. At these competitions, all sprint distances were won by US athletes (60 m - E. Krenzlein (7.0 s); 100 m - F .Jarvis (11.0 s); 200 m - D. Tewksbury (22.2 s); 400 m - M. Long (49.4 s). Since the IV Olympic Games (London, 1908) 60 m run stopped being included in the competition program.Outstanding results in the sprint were achieved by the American sprinter D. Owen, winner of the XI Olympic Games in Berlin (1936) in the 100 and 200 m race (10.3 and 20.7 s). He set a world record in the 100 m race (10.2 s) he lasted 20 years.

Despite the convincing victories of American athletes in short-distance running, the first athlete to show a result of 10.0 s in the 100 m race was the athlete from Germany A. Hari (1960), in the 200 m race the result was 20.0 s was shown in 1966 by T. Smith (USA). In the 400 m race, L. Evans was the first to overcome 44.0 s in 1968 - 43.8 s

For the first time women took part in modern olympic games in 1928 (IX Olympic Games, Amsterdam). Women competed at a distance of 100 m. The winner in this event was the athlete from the USA E. Robinson with a result of 12.2 s. The 200 m race for women was included in the XIV Olympic Games (London, 1948). At these competitions, both sprint distances were won by the athlete from Holland F. Blankers-Koen, showing 11.9 s in the 100 m and 24.4 s in the 200 m. In the 100 m race, women competed for medals only at the XVIII Olympic Games (Tokyo, 1964). The winner in this type of program was the athlete from Australia B. Cuthbert (52.0 s).

A bright mark in short-distance running was left by athletes S. Walasiewicz (Poland, 1935, 200 m, 23.6 s); V. Rudolph (USA, 1960, 11.2 and 22.8 s); V. Thayes (USA, 1968, 100 m, 11.0 s); I. Shevinyzha (Poland, 1974, 200 and 400 m, 22.5 and 49.3 s); M. Koch (GDR, 1985, 200 and 400 m, 21.71 and 47.60 s.

Middle distance running technique

End of form

This is a way to implement the most rational and optimal movements of a runner, allowing you to run a certain distance at a planned speed. The methodology for modifying and improving technology should be based on the consistent development of its individual elements and the integral structure as actions in accordance with the levels of movement control. This is realized through increasing the efficiency, variability and efficiency of movement parameters in the appropriate forms of general, special and holistic exercises.

For middle-distance running, it is very important to be able to change your technique as fatigue sets in, when the body is filled with lactic acid.

To analyze running technique, isolate start, starting acceleration, distance running And finishing.

Start and starting acceleration . In middle distance running, a high start is used. At the sound of a whistle or the command “Ready”, runners quickly take their starting position, placing their starting foot forward towards the line without stepping on it. The second leg is placed on the toe behind, at a distance of one foot from the heel of the leg in front. Both legs are slightly bent, the weight of the body is transferred to a greater extent to the front leg, and the gaze is directed in front of you. Different name ahead standing leg The arm bent at the elbow together with the shoulder is brought forward, the second arm is pulled back. The fingers are bent freely. At the command “March” or a shot, the runner, bent over, actively pushing himself, quickly begins to run. The starting acceleration should provide the most optimal running speed for a given distance. A faster increase in speed causes unnecessary energy expenditure and early acidification of the body. Most runners accelerate to the 60-70 m distance using a natural increase in frequency and stride length. Starting acceleration, when the running speed exceeds the average distance speed, is divided into a set of speed and its gradual decrease to the distance speed, which must be worked out in the training process.

Running the distance. In middle-distance running, the stride length is 190-220 cm at a frequency of 3.5-4.5 steps/s. An almost vertical position of the torso (the forward tilt does not exceed 4-5° and can vary within 2-3°) provides optimal conditions for moving the legs forward. The arms are bent at approximately 90° and move freely back and forth in accordance with the movements of the legs. Hand work ensures balance and helps speed up or slow down the pace of movement.

The feet are placed on the track on either side of the midline with the forefoot.

The moment of effective repulsion is carried out at an angle of 50-55° and is characterized by full straightening of the leg. In this position, the shin is parallel to the pushing leg. Active push-off is facilitated by the swing of the free leg, which ends with the braking of the hip due to the inclusion of muscles back surface. Through push-off and swing, the body transitions into flight, where the runner receives relative rest. The leg, finishing the push, relaxes and, bending at the knee joint, reaches behind the thigh. In this case, the shin of the second leg is reactively brought forward. A more effective push-off ends with a turn in hip joint towards the swing leg. The active abduction of the hips, which begins in this phase, ensures that the leg is landing with a slightly bent knee, which reduces its braking effect at the moment of planting on the forefoot. The positioning of the leg is carried out not by a passive, but by an active “capture” mechanism, which in the depreciation phase allows for greater energy recovery. This also provides the runner with inertial vertical passage. The shin of the leg located behind is pressed against the thigh, facilitating some rest for the runner and quickly moving the leg forward and upward. The rear push phase provides maximum effect repulsion by a combination of inertial, reactive and concentrated forces muscle contractions. In this case, it is necessary to finely differentiate the sequence of muscle activation between the hip and ankle joints. The emphasis of the push is individually felt in pushing through thumb feet.

When running around a turn, the torso is slightly tilted inside the track, the foot of the right foot is placed with a slight turn of the heel outward. Right hand works more actively and somewhat inward.

The main features of the technique are determined in the following way: the torso is slightly tilted forward, the shoulders are slightly apart, the pelvis is slightly pushed forward, the head is held straight, the chin is lowered, the muscles of the face and neck are not tense, the movements of the arms and legs are wide and free.

Olympic Games - the main objective any runner who is going to devote his life to the sport. It is not surprising, because participation in the largest international competitions provides the athlete with a place in history.

A person who begins professional athletics and plans to “grow up” to participate in the Olympic Games must know what types of Olympic running there are and soberly assess what he can be successful in.

There are several main categories of running.

They are divided according to two main characteristics:

• by distance: short and long distances.
• by gender of runners: competitions between women are held separately, and between men - separately. They compete in their gender group.

Depending on the distance, there are the following types of running:

1. Sprint. This is a run over a distance of 100 to 400 meters. The “100-meter race” is considered to be the most elite - it is used to determine the person who will be officially recognized as the fastest in the world. There are also distances of 200 and 400 meters - the latter is the most difficult for a runner because it requires maximum concentration and endurance.
2. Middle distances. They also have segments different lengths. The shortest is 800 meters, the next is 1500 meters, and the longest is 3000 meters. Each distance has certain barriers.
3. Long running distances are considered to be races of 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
4. Road running. It is divided into two distances. The longest is the marathon distance (it is 42 kilometers 195 meters). Half marathon is half its length (its length is 21 kilometers 97.5 meters). This race is called a road race solely because of the location - it is held on the highway.
5. Hurdling competitions are usually held at distances of 100 and 400 meters. This is a difficult test even for experienced runners: you need to try to maintain speed and continuously overcome barriers, observing certain conditions. In particular, you cannot knock down barriers with your limbs.
6. Race walking does not seem to be a very difficult competition relative to, for example, road running, but in fact, it is no easier. Distances from 20 to 50 kilometers are not easy to overcome - it requires Olympic endurance and willpower.

Every competition requires careful preparation.

In particular, in order to be the first to run in a long-distance race, you need endurance and the ability to correctly distribute the load.

In addition, the athlete must have healthy blood vessels and heart, since such distances are a lot of stress for the body. In order to achieve the ideal level of development sporting qualities, runners train for years to develop the ability to run in a variety of conditions for a variety of conditions

The content of the article

SWIMMING (SPORTS DISTANCES), one of oldest species sports Includes competitions in overcoming water distances from 50 to 1500 m (in the pool) in freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke, as well as in medley swimming and team relay. The swimmer (team) who reaches the finish line first wins.

Since 1896 it has been included in the program of the Olympic Games. Currently, the Olympic swimming competitions are one of the largest in terms of the number of awards awarded.

Swimming is included in the program of modern pentathlon and naval all-around, is the technical basis of the game of water polo, as well as a mandatory element in the training of water jumpers and representatives of sailing and powerboat sports. In addition to swimming at sports distances, there are applied, underwater, synchronized, therapeutic, household and other types of swimming.

Regular swimming classes train all major muscle groups, heart and lungs, develop endurance and coordination of movements, harden the body, strengthen nervous system, produce correct posture, improve metabolism.

Swimming styles.

Modern sports swimming is divided into freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.

Freestyle.

According to the rules, when swimming freestyle, athletes can use any method (with the exception of medley swimming and team relays: in this case, freestyle is defined as different from breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke). Swimmers traditionally prefer the crawl, the fastest modern swimming style, so the concepts “freestyle” and “crawl” are often perceived as synonymous.

It is believed that the crawl as a style was formed by modifying swimming on the side - hand over hand. It has been used in competitions since the beginning of the last century. One of the founders of the modern crawl is Olympic champion Zoltan Halmai. Duke Kahanamoku and Johnny Weissmuller, who shone on the Olympic tracks, also made a great contribution to the further development of the style. At the 1912 Olympic Games, Kahanamoku used a four-beat crawl instead of a two-beat crawl (for each stroke of the arm there is one movement of the leg). Later, Weissmuller began to use the six-beat crawl.

The main driving force when swimming freestyle is created by the hands. The athlete alternately plunges his arms slightly bent at the elbow in front of his shoulders into the water, makes a long powerful stroke, gradually straightening his arm, and takes it out of the water at the hip. The work of the hands is accompanied by alternating movements up and down of the legs, which at the same time slightly bend and straighten at the knees.

Backstroke.

Backstroke swimming was once used exclusively for recreation on the water. Over time, it began to be used to overcome water distances - and was included in the competition program. At first, athletes used breaststroke, i.e. without taking your hands out of the water, technique. Modern (sometimes called “impact”) backstroke swimming is essentially an inverted crawl: alternate swinging movements of the arms are accompanied by “fluttering” kicks of the legs in the water.

At the 1912 Olympics, the inverted crawl was first demonstrated by the American Harry Hebner, who, thanks to his “know-how,” was able to noticeably outstrip his rivals. And at the 1936 Games, his compatriot Adolf Kiefer achieved an impressive advantage thanks to another technical innovation: the somersault when performing a turn, which was eventually adopted by all swimmers.

Breaststroke.

The slowest of all competitive swimming styles, primarily due to the braking moment when moving the arms forward (French brasse literally means “to spread one’s arms”). However, in Europe, breaststroke was the main swimming style for a long time, and all the first records were set using this technique. Swimmers at competitions tried to increase speed in various ways: including by moving their arms, as in butterfly. In order to preserve breaststroke as a separate swimming event, the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA) eventually decided to separate breaststroke and butterfly.

When swimming breaststroke, the legs should be in a horizontal position and move synchronously, as well as the arms, performing simultaneous wide strokes. According to the rules, after the start and turn, athletes are allowed to make only one full vertical movement of each leg while underwater. The athlete's head may periodically disappear under water, but the so-called diving breaststroke(where the swimmer covers most of the distance underwater) is now prohibited.

Butterfly.

Second fastest style. At one time it was considered a type of breaststroke, but since 1952 it has become a separate swimming style. It got its name (English butterfly - butterfly) due to the fact that the movements of the swimmer's hands really resemble the flapping of the wings of a butterfly.

Originated in the 1930s. At first it was used only in certain sections of the breaststroke distance, then throughout the entire distance. First in official competitions it was demonstrated in 1935 by Jimmy Higgins. The footwork borrowed from breaststroke was eventually replaced by a synchronized up-and-down movement in which the swimmer kicks the water with his feet. Both hands should also move synchronously.

There is a high-speed variety of butterfly - dolphin: the athlete makes a wave-like movement with his whole body.

Rules.

Types of program.

Freestyle - distances 50, 100, 200, 400, as well as 800 m (women only) and 1500 m (men only); breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke - at distances of 100 and 200 m; individual medleys for 200 and 400 m; 4x100m, 4x200m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay.

Participants in individual combined swims swim in different styles in the following sequence: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. In the mixed team relay the sequence is as follows: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle.

Participants in the team relay (and the order of their performance) are determined in advance and entered into the competition protocol. Each swimmer can only compete in one stage.

Pool.

Swimming competitions are held in pools with a length of 25 m (“short water”) and 50 m (“short water”). long water"). Since 1924, Olympic tournaments have been held only in 50-meter pools.

OI-1924 were marked by another innovation: continuous floating markings in the form of cords with floats that separated one track from another. The width of the track is 2.5 m. The numbering of the tracks goes from right to left (if you look from the start in the direction of the distance). Contrasting dark lines are applied at the bottom of the pool - in the center of each lane - as well as at the corners of the walls, allowing the swimmer to maintain the exact direction of movement during the swim. When swimming on the back, athletes are guided by special direction indicators - a rope with flags, which is stretched on both sides of the pool.

When distributing lanes between swim participants, the so-called wedge rule. If there is an odd number of lanes in the pool, the swimmer (team) who showed at the previous stage best time, swims along the central track, if even - along the 3rd (if there are 6 tracks) or along the 4th (if there are 8). The athlete who showed the second time starts on the track to the left of the leader, the third on the track to the right, etc.

The rules prohibit “relying” on the markings, as well as swimming into someone else’s lane (and generally interfering with opponents in passing the distance in any way).

Equipment.

Swimming trunks (for women - a bathing suit), as well as - at the athlete's request - a bathing cap and special glasses. Sometimes male athletes cut their hair to “zero” to improve “hydrodynamics.” At the end of the century, the fashion of a century ago returned, when male swimmers, like women, competed in swimsuits. Some masters of men's swimming are experimenting with special wetsuits created according to the latest technologies, and swimmers - with asymmetrical swimsuits.

The rules prohibit the use of devices at competitions that can increase the speed, buoyancy and endurance of an athlete - fins, “webbed” gloves, etc.

Judging.

At major international competitions, the judging panel includes: the chief judge (referee), starters, timekeepers, judges at turns and the finish, assistants monitoring the athletes’ entry to the start, judges monitoring compliance with swimming technique, an informant judge and secretaries. In case of a false start, another assistant lowers a special false start rope into the water.

Start, turn around, finish.

In breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle and individual medley swimming, athletes start from a starting position with a special starting stand. (Besides classic version start, in which the athlete’s arms are extended forward and down or pulled back, the so-called “grab start” is also allowed: the swimmer’s hands grab the edge of the table from the front or from the sides.) In backstroke and mixed team relay competitions, the start is accepted of water: holding the handrails of the starting stand with their hands and facing it, athletes rest their feet against the wall of the pool (below the water level) and - at the command “To the start!” – swimmers must fix their starting position by slightly pulling themselves towards the handrails.

The start is made when the starter fires. Now at major competitions there is a “ one start rule": a swimmer who has committed false start, is disqualified.

The moment of start and finish is recorded by electronic sensors located on the starting blocks and on the walls of the pool. If a swimmer participating in the relay pushes off from the starting block 0.03 seconds before his teammate from the previous stage touches the wall, the team will be disqualified.

In all types of the program, the athlete must touch the wall of the pool when turning. Freestyle and backstroke swimmers can touch the wall with any part of their body, so they use turn somersault forward, pushing off the wall with your feet. When swimming breaststroke and butterfly, the swimmer must touch the wall with his hands, so here it is used "pendulum" turn. Turns similar in technique are used in individual medley swimming when transitioning from butterfly to backstroke and from breaststroke to freestyle. When transitioning from the “back” to the breaststroke, a forward somersault turn is used (in this case, swimmers, according to the rules, must remain on their back until they touch the wall of the pool).

Part of the swimmer’s body must remain above the water at all times, with the exception of the start and turn, when part of the distance (no more than 15 m) is allowed to be covered under water.

In freestyle and backstroke competitions, when finishing, athletes can touch the wall of the pool with one hand; when swimming butterfly and breaststroke, they must touch the wall with two.

Competition formula.

FINA sets standard A and B qualifying times for each event. In order to enter two athletes in competitions (the maximum number of participants from one country in each program event), both of them must meet the A standard. If one or both athletes meet the B standard, the National Federation may enter only one competitor.

Major competitions begin with qualifying heats and then follow a knockout system until the finals. An athlete’s progress to the next stage depends not on the place he occupied in “his” swim, but on the time shown.

Athlete training.

The basis is the general physical training of the swimmer, which contributes to the development of endurance, and breathing (errors in breathing ultimately affect technique). When practicing a technique, much attention is paid not only to mastering its individual elements, but also to the coordination of movements and the ability to accurately calculate them (which is extremely important, for example, when performing a turn), as well as a sense of rhythm.

With the development of sports swimming, the organization began to acquire increasing importance training process. This is what contributed, for example, to the considerable success of Japanese swimmers in horse racing. 20–30s. Noticeably inferior to rivals from Europe and America in physical strength and the strength of their physique, they compensated for this with the frequency of movements performed during the swim (which, in turn, was achieved by increasing training loads). Similarly, the rise of Australian swimming in the mid-50s was largely due to the introduction of the so-called interval training– with a simultaneous increase in its total volume and intensity.

Recently, much attention has been paid to means special training swimmers using the latest achievements science and technology, individual approach, athlete recovery programs, etc.

Experiments with swimming pool equipment also contribute to the growth of swimmers’ technical performance. Thus, the participants of the 1976 Olympic Games, who set 24 Olympic records - in 26 types of the program - 21 of which became world records at the same time, competed in a “pool without waves”: turbulent water flows resulting from the movement of athletes were neutralized thanks to a special design and size swimming pool And in the pool built for the 1996 Games, the problem of turbulence is solved due to its great depth, a special drainage system and lane markers that absorb the waves.

From the history of navigation.

Swimming in ancient times.

Swimming, known to man since time immemorial, was initially of an applied nature: in connection with economic activities, etc. Over time, it began to be used as a means of “ active rest" The earliest images of swimmers that have reached us date back to the 4th–3rd millennia BC: rock paintings in the Libyan Desert, bas-reliefs of ancient Babylon, etc.

It is known that swimming was extremely revered by the ancient Greeks. It was not included in the program of the Olympic Games, but was a mandatory part of some other competitions: for example, the Isthmus Games. Even the expression “He can neither read nor swim” entered the speech of the Greeks - as evidence of the complete worthlessness of a person. Swimming was considered an important element not only in the general physical training of the younger generation, but also in education in general.

Swimming was no less popular among the ancient Romans. It was part of the training program for legionnaires. Julius Caesar and some other Roman generals were excellent swimmers. At the beginning of A.D. At the Roman baths they began to build swimming pools with heated water.

Much attention was paid to swimming in ancient Egypt and India. In Japan, even BC. competitions were held.

The origins of modern competitive swimming.

In medieval Europe, swimming was even included in the rite of knighting, although there was a period when it actually fell into decline.

At 15 – start. 16th centuries swimming began to acquire a sporting character: it is known, for example, that in 1515 competitions were held in Venice. In 1538, the first written instruction on swimming known to us was published by the Dane N. Vinman. The first amateur swimming school was opened in Paris at the end of the 18th century. A little bit later similar schools appear in Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia.

In the 1830s, the first ever Sports Swimming Association was created in England. In 1844, swimming competitions were held in London. (On the initiative of the organizers, several North American Indians also took part in the competition, and confidently won - thanks to the technique of swimming in fathoms, unknown to Europeans; however, the British, even after that, did not change their usual “breaststroke” technique.) In 1875, Matthew Webb swam over English Channel, thereby marking the beginning of ultra-marathon swimming.

In the middle of the 19th century different countries The construction of artificial (indoor) swimming pools began (the first such structure opened in 1842 in Vienna). By the end of the century, swimming had gained incredible popularity. In 1889, the first international competitions took place in Budapest. A year later, the European Championship was played for the first time. (From 1926 to 1981 it was carried out once every 4 years, currently - once every 2 years.)

Created in 1908 International Amateur Swimming Federation(FINA), which contributed to the streamlining of competitive practice and registration of records, and in 1924 - European League swimming(LINEN). Currently, there are 181 national federations in FINA, and 50 in LEN.

The first ever world swimming championship took place only in 1973 - in Belgrade (Yugoslavia). The following world championships were played at intervals of two to five years. In July 2003, the tenth anniversary championship was held in Barcelona (Spain), but not as a separate swimming competition, but as part of the World Championships held under the auspices of FINA. aquatic species sports (its program also includes water polo, synchronized swimming and diving). The famous swimmer from the GDR, Michael Gross, has the most world awards – 13 (5+5+3). His compatriot Cornelia Ender has 10 medals, 8 of which are gold. Among men, American James Montgomery won the world gold most often (6 times).

In the first half of the 20th century greatest development swimming began in England, Germany, Hungary, USA, Australia, the Netherlands, and Japan. Over time, Soviet (Russian) swimmers entered the world elite, and at the end of the 20th century - Chinese athletes.

Swimming at the Olympic Games.

It has been part of the Olympic program since the first Games (1896), where athletes competed - without division into swimming styles - at distances of 100, 500 and 1200 m. There was also a swim for sailors - a hundred-meter swim in clothes. The swimmers competed in difficult conditions: on the open sea, in cool April water and in unfavorable weather. Hungarian Alfred Hajos distinguished himself. Having won gold in the 100 m swimming, he became the first Olympic champion among swimmers in history, and then repeated his success at the 1200 m distance. In terms of the total number of awards, Greek swimmers took the lead: 8 medals (but their delegation was also the most representative, and Only three Greeks took part in the “sailors’ swim.”)

At the Olympic Games-1900, backstroke swimming (200 m) was singled out as a separate type of program, which included only seven numbers. The victory was won by the German Ernst Hoppenberg, who also won gold in the team relay. At the Paris Olympics there was also a 60m underwater swim and a 200m steeplechase. These disciplines aroused considerable interest among spectators, but they were no longer included in the Olympic program. Another type of program that is unusual by modern standards is the 4000 m freestyle swim. Here, as in the 1000 m swim, there was no equal to the Englishman John Jarvis. The hosts of the Games collected the largest harvest of awards in swimming (5), but in terms of the number of gold medals they were behind Germany, Great Britain and Australia, which won two golds each.

The vast majority of participants in the St. Louis Games (1904) were Americans, and only four took part in the team swimming relay. American team. Competition for the hosts, who won 14 medals (among them stood out Charles Daniels, who won all 3 American “golds”, including the relay, as well as “silver” and “bronze”), were athletes from Germany and Hungary: first of all, they won two top awards Emil Rausch and Zoltan Halmai. At the 1904 Olympic Games, breaststroke made its debut as an Olympic discipline - at a distance of 440 yards (distances in all nine events in St. Louis were measured in yards).

Daniels and Halmai repeated their success at the intermediate Olympic Games (1906): the first - in the 100-meter freestyle, the second - in the 4x250 m team relay. They also led the main fight in the 100-meter “freestyle” distance at the 1908 Olympics in London: Halmai lost to his opponent by only 0.6 seconds. The “golden” record holder among swimmers was the Englishman Henry Taylor: 3 championship titles (including the relay) - exactly half of the total “gold”. And this time the home team turned out to be the strongest among the swimming teams.

At the Olympic Games in Stockholm (1912), swimming competitions among women were held for the first time. Representative of Australasia (the joint team of Australia and New Zealand) Fanny Durek excelled in the 100 m freestyle. British athletes won the 4x100 team relay. In the men's competition, which included seven numbers, German Walter Bath and Canadian George Hodgson received two gold medals each. In the team competition, the German swimmers performed most successfully: 7 medals (2+3+2). The Australasian athletes had one less silver.

The heroine of the 1920 Olympic Games was the American swimmer Ethelda Bleibtreu, who won three out of three possible gold medals for women (2+1), while setting three world records and finishing with a solid advantage each time. Her compatriot Norman Ross also won three golds. Duke Kahanamoku distinguished himself twice: in his signature 100-meter freestyle and in the relay. In the team competition, the US swimmers were out of competition, receiving more than half of all awards: including eight (out of ten) gold. The Swedes, who took two golds in breaststroke thanks to Hakan Malmroth, were second.

At the Paris Olympics (1924), Americans won 9 top awards. The legendary Johnny Weissmuller took first in the 100 and 400 m freestyle (an Olympic record), as well as in the 4x200 relay (a world record). He made history as the first swimmer to swim the 100m freestyle in under 1 minute and the 400m in under 5 minutes (thanks to an innovation: the six-stroke freestyle). At the 1924 Olympics, 3 world records in swimming and 9 Olympic ones were set. And the Olympic swimming program presented in Paris (11 numbers) remained unchanged until the mid-1950s.

At the 1928 Olympics, Weissmuller added two more gold medals (1+1) to his collection. His national team partners George Koyach, Albina Osipovich and Marta Norelius also received two gold medals. In the overall standings, the best were again the US swimmers, although this time their advantage was not so convincing, and the geography of the winners turned out to be vast: the USA, Sweden, Germany, Argentina, the Netherlands, Japan.

The Japanese, who were among the winners for the first time in 1928, became the best in the overall standings at the next Games, although in women's swimming The Americans continued to dominate, and Helen Madison managed to win three golds. Japanese swimmers excelled in five (out of six) men's swimming events. At the same time, the result shown by 14-year-old Kusuo Kitamura (the youngest in the history of men's olympic swimming champion) at a distance of 1500 m freestyle (19 min 12.4 sec), will be surpassed at the Olympic Games only 20 years later, and in the relay, Japanese swimmers improved the Olympic record from four years ago (updating the world record) by almost 40 sec!

Swimmers from Japan also distinguished themselves at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin: out of 11 medals they won, 4 were of the highest standard. The same amount of “gold” ended up in the Dutch national team’s treasury, and all of it was mined women's team, and Rie Mastenbroek became a three-time champion of the Games (2+1).

Japanese and German athletes did not take part in the first post-war Olympics, which - in part - allowed the US swimming team to regain lost ground. In men's swimming, all six championship titles went to the Americans. The national teams of Denmark and the Netherlands took second and third places in the overall standings, thanks to the successful performance of the women's teams.

The Americans were also the first at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. The Hungarian team that took second place was only slightly behind the leaders, but in terms of the number of top awards (4) it was on par with them. The success of the Hungarian team was also entirely ensured by women.

Olympic Games 1956 in Melbourne were awarded first for long years a change in the swimming program: butterfly, recognized as a separate style, was added to it - 100 m for women and 200 m for men. The Americans, who have repeatedly achieved success in new types, did not change the tradition this time either. However, in the overall standings, they were confidently surpassed by the home team (half of the “women’s” and almost all of the “men’s” “gold”), which included many capable swimmers. Murray Rose excelled in three events, including the relay (Rose and some of his teammates will replenish their gold reserves at the next Games). Lorraine Crapp and young Dawn Fraser won two titles each (ind. and est.) (the Australian prodigy would win two more top awards at the Olympic Games in Rome and Tokyo, thus becoming the first swimmer to win three Olympics, female athletes will “swim” within a minute in the 100-meter dash).

In 1960, the men's and women's 4x100 m medley relay was included in the Olympic program. In 1964, three more numbers were added, and in 1968 - 11 at once, bringing the total number to 29. However, in 1976 the program was slightly reduced (26).

At the 1960 Olympic Games, the US team took revenge on the Australians for their loss in Melbourne. Olympic swimming began another era of American dominance that would last nearly 20 years. At the 1964 Olympics, the young American swimmer Donald Schollander won four gold medals (2+2) (he will receive another gold at the next Games). His teammate Steve Clark received all three of his golds for the relay; Sharon Stouder's performance was, respectively, 1+2.

The noticeable “increase” in swimming disciplines at the Olympic Games led to the fact that two or three “golds” for one swimmer were no longer perceived as an exceptional achievement. Thus, at the 1968 Olympic Games, Americans Charles Hickcox and Debbie Meyer each won three titles, and 12 swimmers became double champions. Among them are the legendary Mark Spitz (USA) and Roland Matthes (GDR), for whom this was the beginning of great Olympic success.

Having won 7 more titles (4+3) in Munich (1972), and setting seven world records, Spitz became the absolute “golden” record holder among Olympic swimmers. Shane Gould and Melissa Belote each received 3 titles. At the 1976 Olympic Games, Jim Montgomery (USA), the first in history to swim beyond 50 seconds in the 100 m freestyle, received three golds, and his teammate John Naber received four.

Australian swimmers were second in four consecutive Games (1960–1972). But in Montreal ’76 they were supplanted by the athletes of the GDR team (18 of its 19 awards were won by women: Cornelia Ender especially distinguished herself: four golds and a silver, and Ulrike Richter: three golds). At the Moscow Olympics (1980), swimmers from the GDR - in the absence of their main American rivals - took first place. And again, largely thanks to the swimmers who set 6 world records. Some of them won three gold medals, and in six types of programs the entire podium belonged to representatives of the GDR. Three golds (in the 400 and 1500 m freestyle swimming and in the 4x200 relay) were won by the outstanding Soviet swimmer Vladimir Salnikov, who swam under 15 minutes for the first time in history in the 1500 m final.

Due to the “retaliatory” boycott of the Eastern Bloc countries, GDR athletes were no longer included in the 1984 Olympics. The Americans once again became the best in the Olympic pool. The program was again increased to 29 numbers, and a significant clarification was made to the rules: from now on, no more than two athletes could represent one country in each swimming discipline.

At the 1988 Olympics, the swimmers (or rather, female swimmers) of the GDR again took the lead; in 1992, our swimmers were the strongest, and the next two Olympics were again for the Americans. Noticeably added to the game. 80 – beginning 90s athletes from Hungary, USSR (Russia) and China. In 2000, Australian swimmers again made people talk about themselves, becoming second in the team competition in Sydney.

In the individual competition in Seoul (1988), Matt Biondi, who added 5 more top awards (2+3) to the “gold” of the previous Olympics, setting five records (four of them world ones), and swimmer from the GDR Christine Otto, were out of competition – 6 gold medals (2+4) and four Olympic records. The American Janet Evans (whose three world records have still not been surpassed) received her first three gold medals. Two champions of past Olympics also distinguished themselves: our Vladimir Salnikov and Michael Gross (Germany).

At the 1992 Olympic Games, athletes from China won four gold medals, confirming that their success in Seoul was not accidental. Evans received another “gold”, Biondi received two, Hungarian Kristina Egerzegi continued her “championship” initiative of the previous Olympic Games (3 titles) - the Olympics in Atlanta will bring her another top award (her record in the 200 m backstroke is also unshakable ). Her compatriot Tamas Dargny also distinguished himself, who also repeated his Olympic success in the 200 and 400 m medley swimming. The Russian men's team performed powerfully in Barcelona ( see below).

One of the sensations in Atlanta 96 was the Irish swimmer Michelle Smith (3 golds and 1 bronze), who was not among the favorites before the Games. American Amy van Dyken received four top awards (2+2). I added two medals to my gold collection Russian Alexander Popov.

The last Games of the 20th century. swimmers recorded many records: 15 world, 38 Olympic and 74 continental. The Dutchwoman Inge de Bruin, who won three golds and a silver, and her compatriot Pieter van den Hoogenband (2 golds and 2 bronzes) each hold three world records. The American Jenny Thompson became first three times (and once third) and twice set a world record. Team USA veteran Dara Torres has won the most medals in the Olympic pool: 5 (2 gold and 3 bronze). And the “swimmer of the 21st century” Ian Thorpe distinguished himself for the hosts: three top awards and two world records.

At the 1988 and 1992 Games the program grew again: 31 numbers. In Atlanta and Sydney, swimmers have already competed for 32 sets of medals: 16 for men and women, and at Olympic Games-04 there will be even more: 40!

In the entire history of Olympic swimming (2000 inclusive), the US team won the largest number of medals: 439 (195+140+104), significantly ahead of the second-placed Australians, who have 140 medals (44+46+50). In the “personal competition” in terms of the number of Olympic “golds”, Spitz is still unrivaled: 9 medals (7 of them were received at one Olympics - also a record). Egerzegi has won the most titles in individual events (5). And according to the total number Olympic awards Spitz and Biondi have the same score - 11 (eight of Biondi's eleven awards are gold).

World records.

The progress of world swimming is clearly confirmed by the dynamics of record performance in its various types. For example, Hungarian Alfred Hajos won the 100-meter freestyle at the 1896 Games with a time of 1 minute 22.2 seconds. The 2000 Olympic Games champion, Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband, covered the same distance almost twice as fast: in 47.84 seconds (a new Olympic and world record).

The most world records (42) were set today by the Danish woman Ragnhilda Hweger, from 1936 to 1942. Among male swimmers, the most prolific record holder remains the Swede Arne Borg: 32 records (from 1921 to 1929).

World records in modern swimming are registered separately in 25 and 50 m pools.

Swimming in Russia.

Pre-revolutionary period.

Our ancestors practiced various ways swimming: frog (analogue of modern breaststroke), on the side, doggy style, fathoms, etc. In the 18th–19th centuries. swimming in Russia was cultivated primarily among the army. It is known that Peter I and A. Suvorov paid great attention to training soldiers in swimming skills, and in the 19th century. There were even competitions held in the sapper units of the Russian army.

The first swimming school in Russia opened in 1825 in St. Petersburg. And the first Russian-language printed guide to learning to swim was Thevenot’s book. In 1891, the country's first indoor swimming pool opened in Moscow. Three years later, the first competitions were held in St. Petersburg, on the Slavyanka River.

In 1908, the Shuvalov Swimming School opened in the suburbs of St. Petersburg, which became the most famous of such institutions in pre-revolutionary Russia. Soon the “Moscow Society of Swimming Amateurs” began to operate in Moscow. In 1913, competitions between swimmers from Moscow and St. Petersburg were held on Lake Shuvalovskoye. In the same year, in Kyiv (as part of the first Russian Olympiad), the national swimming championship was played for the first time with the participation of several dozen athletes.

In general, competitive swimming was not very developed in pre-revolutionary Russia. The swimming season was limited to the warm season (there were few indoor pools); accordingly, the athletes trained in the summer and could not keep in shape at the proper level - which is confirmed by the experience of our swimmers’ participation in the 1912 Olympic Games.

Swimming in the USSR.

The first swimming competitions in the USSR were held in 1918 in Moscow. In 1920, the Dolphin sports society was created in Petrograd, which had an outdoor swimming pool and became one of the centers for the development of domestic swimming. A little later, in Moscow, and then in other cities, their own swimming schools began to open. The first Soviet swimmers were also active in diving and water polo).

In 1923, the first USSR championship between teams from different cities was held in Moscow, which was won by athletes from Petrograd. Further popularization of swimming in the country was facilitated by All-Russian Spartakiad 1928 (after this the USSR championships began to be held regularly). Great importance It also had the fact that swimming was included in the general education program and in the GTO (Ready for Labor and Defense) complex. In 1927, the country's first winter (25-meter) swimming pool opened in Leningrad. In the early 30s, several indoor swimming pools were built in Moscow.

Some of the results shown by our swimmers in the 1930s exceeded European and world records. The first to achieve this was the multiple USSR champion Claudia Aleshina, who in 1935 set the all-Union record in 400 m backstroke (Aleshina holds 180 national records in total) - 6 minutes 7.2 seconds, which was more than 5 seconds higher than the then world record. Semyon Boychenko exceeded world records 8 times in the 100 and 200 m breaststroke and butterfly. Leonid Meshkov improved world records 13 times.

A new stage in the history of Soviet navigation begins after the Great Patriotic War. Competitions are resuming. Winter and summer swimming pools are being built. In 1947, the All-Union Swimming Section of the USSR (since 1959 – the All-Union Swimming Federation) joined FINA, and two years later – the Leningrad Region. In 1952 our swimmers made their debut at the Olympic Games, and in 1954 at the European Championships.

Our first Olympic success came in 1956, when Kharis Yunichev became third in the 200 m breaststroke, and our team won bronze medals in the 4x200 freestyle relay. In the overall team competition, the Soviet swimmers team took 7th place.

The real rise of domestic swimming in the international arena began in the 60s. Galina Stepanova-Prozumenshchikova in 1964 received our first Olympic “gold” in swimming - at a distance of 200 m breaststroke, “bronze” went to Svetlana Babanina. For men, Georgy Prokopenko was second at the same distance. Soviet swimmers were third in the 4x100 freestyle medley relay.

Prozumenshchikova will add two silver and two bronze medals to her treasury at the next two Olympics. Vladimir Kossinsky was second twice in Mexico City-68 - in breaststroke distances. Nikolai Pankin received bronze. In addition, the men's swimming team received a silver and two bronze medals in the relays in Mexico City, as well as a silver and a bronze in Munich. Another success of the 1972 Olympic Games was Vladimir Bure’s third place in the 100-meter freestyle.

In 1976, our women's trio Marina Koshevaya, Marina Yurchenya and Lyubov Rusanova confidently performed at the Olympic Games, taking the first three places in the 200 m breaststroke, while Koshevaya set a new world record. Rusanova and Koshevaya also received silver and bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke. The overall result of the performance of our swimmers in Montreal was 9 medals (1+3+5) and third place in the team swimming competition.

Soviet swimmers won eight victories at the Moscow Olympics. First of all, the success of Vladimir Salnikov, who became a three-time champion of the Games (twice in individual events and once in the relay) and set a world record in 1500 m freestyle swimming. At the 1988 Olympics he won another gold. Igor Polyansky excelled in the 200m backstroke in Seoul.

The current stage in the development of domestic swimming.

The All-Russian Swimming Federation was created in 1993. It is headed by G.P. Aleshin (he is also vice-president of the Leningrad Region and a member of the FINA Bureau). The Federation holds national championships, open water swimming competitions (including marathon distances), championships among universities, championships of the Russian Armed Forces and among veterans, the Russian Cup among federal districts, etc. There are many international competitions taking place in Russia.

In the 1990s, our swimmers achieved considerable success on the international stage, including at the Olympics. In Barcelona-92, where we competed as the United Team of the CIS countries, Evgeny Sadovy, who became first three times (including the relay), and Alexander Popov, who won 2 golds, distinguished themselves. At the same time, Sadovy set two world records. In total, our swimmers won 10 medals (6+3+1) and took first place in the team competition.

Popov repeated his success – at the same distances – at the Games in Atlanta-96. His national team partner Denis Pankratov put an end to American hegemony in two more types of programs: 100 and 200 m butterfly. Having received a total of 8 medals (4+2+2), the Russian swimming team came second.

The Russians' performance in Sydney 2000 was unsuccessful: only Popov won silver and Roman Sludnov won bronze.

The most titled of the current Russian swimmers is Popov, who, in addition to the Olympic Games, has won European and world championships more than once and set many world records (his achievement in the 100-meter freestyle in the “short course”, set in March 1994, has not yet been achieved by anyone surpass).

Konstantin Petrov

Distances at the World All-Around Championships: women - 500, 3000, 1500 and 5000m; men - 500, 5000, 1500 and 10000m.

The World All-Around Championships are held over 2 or 3 days. This is determined by the championship organizers, who are obliged to consult with the ISU Sports Directorate. The order of running the distances may be as follows (this must be agreed upon with the ISU technical committee):

The order of distances in program “D” and the order of distances (only on the second day) in program “B” and “C”, at the discretion of the organizers and with the approval of the ISU technical committee, can be changed.

Europe championship

Distances at the European All-Around Championships: women - 500, 3000, 1500 and 5000m; men - 500, 5000, 1500 and 10000m.

The European Championship is held over 2 or 3 days. This is determined by the organizers in consultation with the ISU Sports Directorate. The procedure for conducting distances using one of five programs, the choice of which the organizers must agree with the ISU technical committee.

World Sprint Championship

Distances at the World Sprint Championship: 500 and 1000m for women and men. Both of these distances are run on both the first and second days of the competition.

World Junior Championships

• Women: 500, 1000, 1500 and 3000 m (four all-around distances).
• Men: 500, 1500, 3000 and 5000m (four all-around distances).
• Team competition for women - pursuit race for 6 laps. National teams consisting of 3 speed skaters participate.
• Team competition for men - pursuit race for 8 laps. National teams consisting of 3 skaters participate.
• Competitions at separate distances for women: 2 × 500, 1000, 1500 and 3000m.
• Competitions at individual distances for men: 2 × 500, 1000, 1500 - 5000m.
• The World Junior Championships are held over 3 days.

The order of distances can be as follows:

At distances of 3000m for women and 5000m for men, races are held in quartets.

World Single Distance Championships

Distances:

• For women: in individual competitions - 500, 1000, 1500, 3000 and 5000m; V team competitions– 6-lap pursuit race for national teams consisting of 3 speed skaters.
• For men: in individual competitions – 500,1000,1500,5000 and 10000m; in team competitions – pursuit race for 8 laps for national teams consisting of 3 skaters.

The 500m distance is run twice for women and men. The winner is determined by the sum of the results of the two races.

The championship is held over 4 days. Order of distances:

Distances for starting quartets

At ISU Championships the following distances may be competed in quartets:

• 3000m for women;
• 5000m for women and men;
• 10000m for men.

Distances at the Olympic Winter Games.

• women - 500,1000,1500,3000 and 5000m;
• men - 500,1000,1500,5000 and 10000m;
• women ( national team 3 people) - team pursuit 6 laps;
• men (national team 3 people) - team pursuit 8 laps.

The 500m distance is run twice for women and men. The final results are determined by the sum of the times of the two races. Both races are held over one day for women and one day for men.

The program and procedure for conducting distances at the Olympic Games winter games are determined by the national federation of the country where they are held. This program must be approved by the ISU Council.

Based on this, the order of competitions at the distances will be as follows: 5000m - men, 3000m - women, 500m - men, 500m - women, 1000m - men, 1000m - women, 1500m - men, 1500m - women, 10000m - men, 5000m - women. Team pursuit competitions must take place after all individual distances have been completed.

Athletics is an Olympic sport that includes running, walking, jumping and throwing. Combines the following disciplines: running sports, race walking, technical events (jumping and throwing), all-around, running (road running) and cross-country (cross-country running). One of the main and most popular sports.

The governing body is the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), created in 1912 and unites 212 national federations(as of 2011).

Cross-country athletics

Running types of athletics combine the following stadium disciplines: sprint (100 m, 200 m and 400 m), middle-distance running (from 800 to 3000 m, including 3000 m steeplechase), long-distance running (classical distances 5000 m and 10,000 m), hurdles (110 m, 400 m) and relay (4 × 100 m, 4 × 200 m, 4 × 400 m, 4 × 800 m, 4 × 1500 m). All of them take place on the stadium tracks.

Regulations

At large competitions with a large number of participants, starts are held in several circles, eliminating the losers (either by occupied place or by worst time). So at the summer World and European Championships and the Olympic Games the following practice is adopted (the number of laps may vary depending on the number of participants).

• 100 m and 800 m are held in 1-4 rounds (heat-quarterfinals-semifinals-finals)
• from 1500 m to 5000 m in 1-3 laps (heat-semi-finals-finals)
• 10,000 m - in 1-2 laps (race-final)

At the same time, participants in the final races are:

• 100 m to 800 m, relay races - 8 athletes/8 teams
• from 1500 m to 10,000 m - 12 athletes or more

Disciplines

Sprint

Winter stadiums: from 60 meters to 300 meters. Summer stadiums: from 100 meters to 400 meters.

Middle distances

Winter from 400 m to 3000 m. Summer from 600 m to 3000 m 2000 and 3000 m with obstacles.

Long distances

Winter from 2 miles (3218 m) to 5,000 m. Summer from 2 miles (3218 m) to 30,000 m.

Hurdling

Winter 50 m, 60 m. Summer 100 m, 110 m, 400 m.

Relay race

Winter: 4x400 m. Summer: 4x100 m, 4x400 m, 4x800, 4x1500, Swedish relay (800+600+400+200)

Race walking

Race walking is an Olympic track and field discipline in which, unlike running events, there must be constant contact of the foot with the ground. In the Olympic program, competitions for men are held outside the stadium, at distances of 20 km and 50 km, for women at 20 km. Competitions are also held on the 400-meter outdoor track (10,000 and 20,000 m) and the 200-meter indoor track (5,000 m).

Rules and technique

Liu Hong is in the flying phase in front of the judge. In this run she won bronze at the 2013 World Championships.

Race walking is an alternation of steps that must be performed so that the walker is constantly in contact with the ground. In this case, the following two rules must be followed:

• It is necessary that the athlete maintains constant contact with the ground without any loss of contact visible to the human eye.
• The forward leg should be fully extended (that is, not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until it passes the vertical.

The athlete's walking technique is assessed by judges at the distance, who should be from 6 to 9 (including the senior judge).

Walking in the track and field program is the only event in which there is subjective judging. If in running athletes are removed from the race only in exceptional cases, then in walking practice disqualification at a distance is a common occurrence. There are cases when athletes are disqualified after finishing.

Judges may issue warnings to walkers using yellow paddles to warn them against breaking the rules. On one side of the shoulder blade there is a wavy horizontal line drawn (indicating loss of contact with the surface), on the other there are two segments connected at approximately 150 degrees (indicating a bent leg). The referee cannot warn a given athlete more than once about the same violation.

If a rule is broken and the walker is given a warning, the referee sends a red card to the senior referee. An athlete will be disqualified if three red cards from three different judges on the course are sent to the senior judge. In this case, the athlete is informed of disqualification by showing a red card.

In addition, the chief judge may disqualify the athlete individually on the last lap (if the competition takes place in a stadium) or on the last 100 meters of the distance (if walking on the road).

Technical disciplines of athletics

The technical disciplines of athletics include the following types:

• vertical jumps: high jump, pole vault;
• horizontal jumps: long jump, triple jump;
• throwing: shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw.

All these 8 types (men's program) have been included in the Olympic Games program since 1908. Since the women's hammer throw was included in the Olympic Games program (2000), all 8 types are included in the women's program. Technical events are also included in track and field all-around events.

High jump

Running high jump- a discipline of athletics related to vertical jumps of technical types. The components of a jump are the run-up, preparation for take-off, take-off, crossing the bar and landing.

Requires athletes to have jumping ability and coordination of movements. Held in the summer and winter seasons. Is Olympic discipline athletics for men since 1896 and for women since 1928.

Rules

High jump competitions take place in a jumping area equipped with a bar on holders and a landing area. At the preliminary stage and in the final, the athlete is given three attempts at each height; if there are less than eight participants, then each is given 6 attempts. The athlete has the right to skip a height, and attempts not used at a missed height do not accumulate. If an athlete has made an unsuccessful attempt or two at a height and does not want to jump at that height again, he can transfer the unused (two or one) attempts to the next heights. The increase in height during the competition is determined by the judges, but it cannot be less than 2 centimeters. An athlete can start jumping from any height, having previously notified the judges about this.

The distance between the bar holders is 4 m. The dimensions of the landing site are 3x5 meters.

When attempting, the athlete must push off with one leg. An attempt is considered unsuccessful if:

• As a result of the jump, the bar could not stay on the racks;
• The athlete touched the surface of the sector, including the landing area, located behind the vertical projection of the near edge of the bar, or between or outside the posts with any part of his body before he cleared the bar.
• The athlete pushed off with both legs.

The judge marks a successful attempt by raising a white flag. If the bar falls from the stands after the white flag is raised, the attempt is considered valid. Usually the judge records the gain no earlier than the athlete has left the landing site, but the final decision on the moment of recording the result formally remains with the judge.

Pole vault

Pole vault- a discipline related to vertical jumps of technical types of the athletics program. Here the athlete needs to pass over the bar (without knocking it over) using an athletics pole. The men's pole vault is Olympic form sports since the First Summer Olympics in 1896, among women - from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Included in track and field all-around events.

Also, pole vault is the most extraordinary technical discipline. Only here (with the exception of all throwing disciplines) foreign objects are needed to achieve a given goal.

Rules

Pole vault competitions take place in a pole vault area equipped with a bar on holders and a landing area. At the preliminary stage and the final, the athlete is given three attempts at each height. The increase in height during the competition is determined by the judges; it cannot be less than 5 cm. Usually at low heights the bar is raised in steps of 10-15 cm and then the step goes to 5 cm.

The distance between the bar holders is 4.5 m. The landing area dimensions are 6x6 (5x5 for regional competitions) m. The length of the runway is at least 40 m, the width is 1.22 m.

An attempt is considered unsuccessful if:

• as a result of the jump, the bar could not stay on the racks;
• the athlete touched the surface of the sector, including the landing area, located beyond the vertical plane passing through the far edge of the rest box, with any part of the body or a pole;
• the athlete in the flight phase tried to keep the bar from falling with his hands.

The judge marks a successful attempt by raising a white flag. If the bar falls from the stands after the white flag is raised, it no longer matters - the attempt is counted. If the pole breaks during an attempt, the athlete has the right to try again.

Long jump

Long jump- discipline of technical types of athletics program related to horizontal jumps. The long jump requires athletes to have jumping and sprinting qualities. The long jump was part of the competition program of the ancient Olympic Games. It has been a modern Olympic track and field discipline for men since 1896 and for women since 1948. Included in track and field all-around events.

Competition rules

The athlete’s task is to achieve the greatest horizontal length of the running jump. Long jumps are held in the horizontal jump sector general rules established for this variety of technical types. When performing a jump, athletes in the first stage make a run-up along the track, then push off with one foot from a special board and jump into a pit with sand. The jump distance is calculated as the distance from a special mark on the take-off board to the beginning of the hole from landing in the sand.

The distance from the take-off board to the far edge of the landing pit must be at least 10 m. The take-off line itself must be located at a distance of up to 5 m from the near edge of the landing pit.

Triple jump

Triple jump- a discipline of athletics related to horizontal jumps of technical types of the athletics program.

Technically, the triple jump consists of three elements:

• "leap"
• "step"
• "bounce"

The jumper runs along a special sector or path to the take-off bar. This block is the beginning of the jump when measuring its length from the measurement line marked with a plasticine roller for fixing the “spreads”, and the jump begins from this mark. The first element is executed first − leap, in this case, the first touch behind the bar should occur with the same foot with which the jumper began to jump. Then comes the second element of the jump - step(the other foot should touch the ground). The final element is actually bounce, and the jumper lands in a sand pit like a long jump.

There are practically two ways to perform a jump: from the right foot - “right, right, left” and from the left foot - “left, left, right”. The take-off block for jumping is located at a distance of 11 m from the sand-filled pit for women and 13 m for men. Each jumper qualifying for the final is given 3 preliminary attempts and, for the top 8, 3 final attempts to complete the triple jump. In some commercial starts, competition organizers limit the number of attempts to four.

Shot put

Shot put- competitions in long-distance throwing with a pushing movement of the hand of a special sports equipment - a cannonball. The discipline relates to throwing and is included in the technical types of the athletics program. Requires explosive strength and coordination from athletes. It has been an Olympic track and field discipline for men since 1896 and for women since 1948. Included in track and field all-around events.

Rules

Competitors perform a throw in a 35° sector, the top of which begins in the center of a circle with a diameter of 2.135 meters. Throw distance is measured as the distance from the inner circumference of this circle to the point where the projectile hits. Currently, the officially accepted parameters of a projectile are the weight of the core and its diameter. For men - 7.260 kg and 120-129 mm, for women - 4 kg and 100-109 mm. The core must be sufficiently smooth - meet surface roughness class No. 7.

In official competitions, competitors usually complete six attempts. If there are more than eight participants, then after the first 3 attempts the best eight are selected, and in the next three attempts they play the best with the maximum result in six attempts.

Once the athlete is in position in the circle before starting the attempt, the shot must touch or be secured at the neck or chin and the hand must not fall below this position during the put. The core should not be retracted beyond the shoulder line.

The shot put is allowed with one hand; the use of any gloves is prohibited. Bandaging the palm or fingers is also prohibited. If an athlete has a bandaged wound, he must show his hand to the judge, and he will decide on the athlete’s admission to the competition.

1912 Olympic champion Patrick MacDonald (USA)

A common mistake is stepping out of the circle or simply touching the top edge of the circle while performing a push before the lifter has completed the attempt and stepped back out. Sometimes, when making an unsuccessful attempt, athletes deliberately step forward from the circle so that their attempt is not measured.

Discus throw

Discus throw- a discipline in athletics, consisting of throwing a special sports equipment - a discus - at a distance. Refers to throwing and is included in the technical types of the athletics program. Requires strength and coordination of movements from athletes. It has been an Olympic track and field discipline for men since 1896 and for women since 1928. Included in track and field all-around events.

Competitions and rules

Competitors perform a throw from a circle with a diameter of 250 cm. The throw distance is measured as the distance from the outer circumference of this circle to the point of impact of the projectile. The weight of the disc for men is 2 kg, for juniors 1.75 kg, for boys 1.5 kg. For women, juniors and girls - 1 kg. The diameter of the disc is 219-221 mm for men and 180-182 mm for women.

In official IAAF competitions, competitors complete six attempts. If there are more than eight participants, then after the first 3 attempts the best eight are selected and in the next three attempts they play the best with the maximum result in six attempts.

The discus is thrown from a sector enclosed by a net with a permitted horizontal launch angle of no more than 35°, or more precisely 34.92°, otherwise the disc will not be able to fly into the field and will crash into the net or supports. The width of the disc departure gate is 6 meters. The athlete is prohibited from leaving the sector until the disc lands. When thrown, the disc may touch the sector fence if other rules are not violated.

Javelin-throwing

Javelin-throwing- a discipline in athletics, consisting of throwing a special sports equipment - a javelin - at a distance. Refers to throwing and is included in the technical types of the athletics program. Requires strength and coordination of movements from athletes. It has been an Olympic track and field discipline for men since 1908 and for women since 1932. Included in track and field all-around events.

Rules and features

The rules are similar to other throwing disciplines. Competitors make three attempts, and better result the eight best are selected. Those included in this eight make three more throws, and the winner is determined by the best result of all six attempts. Unlike discus, hammer and shot put, athletes use a track (similar to a running surface) to accelerate before throwing rather than a circle. Accordingly, attempts in which the athlete crossed the line at the end of the track are not counted. Also, attempts in which the spear flew outside the designated sector, or did not stick into the ground, but fell flat, are not taken into account.

In addition to the coherence of all coordination of movements and the final effort, the speed of the athlete, which he acquires during acceleration, plays a big role in throwing the javelin. Famous javelin throwers have completely different physiques and physical characteristics, for example, world record holder Uwe Hohn was 199 cm tall and weighed 114 kg, while another record holder, Seppo Reti, was 190 cm and 89-120 kg. The current world record holder, Jan Zelezny, from the Czech Republic, 185 cm and 79-85 kg.

Hammer throwing

Hammer throwing- an athletics discipline consisting of throwing a special sports equipment - a hammer - at a distance. Requires strength and coordination of movements from athletes. Held in the summer season open stadiums. Refers to the technical types of the athletics program. It is an Olympic discipline in athletics (for men - since 1900, for women - since 2000).

Rules

The hammer is a metal ball connected to a handle by steel wire. The length of the hammer for men is 117–121.5 cm, and the total weight is 7.265 kg (= 16 lbs). In women, its length ranges from 116 to 119.5 cm, and its total weight is 4 kg. That is, the weight of the hammer is equal to the weight of the core used by athletes of the corresponding gender.

When throwing, the athlete is in a special circle with a diameter of 2.135 m, within which he spins and throws sports equipment. In order for the attempt to be counted, the athlete must leave the circle only after the hammer hits the ground and only from the back of the circle. In addition, the hammer must fall within the designated sector, fenced with a grid.

Due to the danger that the flying hammer poses to athletes participating in other types of competitions, the angle of the sector was constantly narrowed. In the 1900s it was 90°, in the 1960s it was 60°, and currently it is approximately 35°. For the same reason, the hammer throw competition is often held at the beginning of an athletics program or moved to another stadium.

Athletics all-around events

Athletics all-around is a set of athletics disciplines where athletes compete in various types, which allow us to identify the most versatile athlete. Male all-around athletes are sometimes called knights of many qualities. All-around competitions are included in the Olympic program and are held in the summer and winter seasons.

Disciplines

The IAAF records world records in the following all-around events

• Decathlon men (summer season): 100 m run, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 m run, 110 m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, 1500 m run
• Women's heptathlon (summer season): 100 m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 m run, long jump, javelin throw, 800 m run.
• Men's heptathlon (winter season): 60 m run, long jump, 60 m hurdles, shot put, high jump, pole vault, 1000 m run
• Women's pentathlon (winter season): 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, 800m run

There are also less common events, such as the men's decathlon competition for women. Sometimes the founders of commercial competitions can also conduct all-around events according to a non-standard program.

Rules

For each event, athletes receive a certain number of points, which are awarded either according to special tables or empirical formulas. All-around competitions at official IAAF competitions are always held over two days. Between types there must be a defined interval for rest (usually at least 30 minutes). When conducting certain events, there are amendments characteristic of all-around events:

• in running events, one false start is allowed (in regular running events, you are disqualified after the first false start);
• in the long jump and throwing, the participant is given only three attempts;
• under certain conditions, the use of manual timing is permitted if the stadium is not equipped with automatic timing.

Highway running

Highway running or jogging is a discipline of athletics, running on a hard surface road. The most famous race, the marathon, is an Olympic sport.

Runs are mainly carried out on asphalt surfaces along city streets, as well as between populated areas. Typically the distance ranges from 10 km to a marathon. There are also many runs under 10 kilometers, such as the Carlsbad 5K. These runs attract great attention from fans healthy image life, amateur and professional runners and marathon runners. Famous marathon races are usually massive. More than 40,000 people take part in marathons such as Berlin or New York.

Athletics cross-country

Cross-country running, or cross-country (short for cross country race or cross country running, cross-country flight or cross-country running - “cross-country running”) is one of the disciplines of athletics.

The cross-country route does not have strict international standardization. Usually the route runs through rough terrain in a forest area or open space. The covering can be grass or dirt. The course must be fenced with bright tapes on both sides to separate athletes from spectators. At major international competitions, an additional 1-meter wide corridor is arranged along the ribbons. In this gap are the competition organizers, coaches, photographers and journalists. Competitions are usually held in autumn and winter. The cross-country race can take place in harsh weather conditions such as rain, wind, and sleet.

The length of the route is usually from 3 to 12 kilometers. At the start, all participants are placed in a line or arc. At a distance of 50 meters from the start line, the judge fires a pistol to start the race. If there is a collision between runners or a massive fall in the first 100 meters of the distance, then the organizers are obliged to stop the race and restart it.

According to the IAAF, "the cross country season usually takes place in the winter months after the end of the main athletics season."