Australia has competed in athletics in all Summer Olympics. Edwin Flack won the Men's 800 m and 1500 m at the 1896 Summer Olympics. He won Australia's first athletics and Olympics medals and was that country’s first gold medallist. Athletics is the Australia's second most successful Olympic sport after swimming.
Statistics 1896-2024
- Australia has won 83 medals: 22 gold, 29 silver, and 32 bronze medals.
- Australian women have won 45 medals: 14 gold, 15 silver, and 16 bronze medals
- Australia men have won 37 medals: 8 gold, 14 silver, and 15 bronze medals
- Number of female athletes winning medals: 34
- Number of male athletes winning medals: 39
- Sixteen athletes have won individual gold medals: Edwin Flack (dual), Nick Winter, John Winter, Marjorie Jackson (dual), Shirley Strickland de la Hunty (triple), Betty Cuthbert (four), Herb Elliott, Ralph Doubell, Maureen Caird, Glynis Nunn, Debbie Flintoff-King, Cathy Freeman, Steve Hooker, Sally Pearson, Jared Tallent and Nina Kennedy
- Two athletes have won relay gold medals: Norma Croker and Fleur Mellor
- Most medals: Shirley Strickland de la Hunty (7), 1948, 1952, 1956, including 3 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze; Betty Cuthbert (4), 1956 & 1964, including 4 gold; Jared Tallent (4), 2008, 2012, 2016, including 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze;Raelene Boyle (3), 1968 & 1972, including 3 silver; Stan Rowley (3) 1900, including 3 bronze
- Multiple gold medallists: Betty Cuthbert (4); Shirley Strickland de la Hunty (3); Marjorie Jackson (2) and Edwin Flack (2)
- Medallists at more than one Games: Shirley Strickland de la Hunty and Jared Tallent (3 Games); Betty Cuthbert, Pam Kilborn, Raelene Boyle, Cathy Freeman, Sally Pearson and Nicola Olyslagers (2 Games)
- Relay medals: A total of 6 (including 1 gold medal and 1 silver medal for Women's 4 × 100 m, plus 1 gold medal for Men's 1 x 400 m, 2 silver medals for Men's 4 × 400 m and 1 bronze medal for the Marathon walk relay)
Event Medal Summary 1896-2021
Summary of Olympics athletics medals won by Australian male and female athletes. Australian athletes have not won medals in the following events scheduled for the 2020 Summer Olympics: 5000 metres, 3000 m steeplechase and the hammer throw.
| Event | Gold Women | Silver Women | Bronze Women | Gold Men | Silver Men | Bronze Men | Gold Total | Silver Total | Bronze Total | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 m | na/a | n/a | n/a | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | |
| 100 m | 2 | 1 | 3 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| 200 m | 2 | 2 | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 400 m | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 800 m | - | 1 | - | 2 | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | 3 |
| 1500 m | - | - | - | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | 3 |
| 3000 m | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 10000m | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Marathon | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 80 /100m hurdles (Women) 110 m hurdles (Men) |
4 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| 400m hurdles | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| 20 km walk | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 3 | - | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 50 km walk men only |
n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 3 |
| 4 × 100 m | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 2 |
| 4 × 400 m | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| Long jump | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | 4 | - | 4 |
| High jump | - | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Triple jump | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Pole vault | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 2 |
| Discus | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Javelin | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Shot put | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Heptathlon | 1 | - | - | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Decathlon | n/a | n/a | n/a | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 13 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 27 | 28 | 76 |
- n/a - not a discipline for the gender
Medallists 1896-2024
List of individual and relay Australian medallists.
Gold
Bronze
Silver
See also
References
- ^ "Athletics". Australian Olympic Committee website. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Historical Results - Olympic Games". Athletics Australia website. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- "Australian medal tally". Australian Olympic Committee website. Retrieved 23 June 2016.