1980 in athletics (track and field)
Encyclopedia
International Events
- Olympic Boycott GamesOlympic Boycott GamesThe Liberty Bell Classic was an event held at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1980 by 29 of the boycotting countries of the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics as an alternative to the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow...
- Olympic GamesAthletics at the 1980 Summer OlympicsAthletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics was represented by 38 events. They were held in the Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium at Luzhniki between July 24 and August 1. There were a total number of 959 participating athletes from 70 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal...
- World Cross Country Championships1980 IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsThe 8th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on March 9, 1980 in Paris, France.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
World Best Year Performance
| Event | Men's Track Best Year Performance | Women's Track Best Year Performance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Mark | Name | Mark | |
| 100 metres 100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896... |
10.02 | 10.93 | ||
| 200 metres 200 metres A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first... |
19.96 | 22.01 | ||
| 400 metres 400 metres The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and... |
44.60 | 48.88 | ||
| 800 metres 800 metres The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps... |
1:44.53 | 1:53.43 | ||
| 1,500 metres 1500 metres The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could... |
3:31.36 | 3:52.47 | ||
| Mile |
3:48.8 | 4:21.68 | ||
| 3,000 metres 3000 metres The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and... |
7:37.60 | 8:33.53 | ||
| 5,000 metres 5000 metres The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event... |
13:16.38 | 15:30.6 | ||
| 10,000 metres 10000 metres The 10,000 metres or 10K is a common long distance running event. As "10,000 metres" it is a track event, and appears in athletics events such as the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics; as "10K" it is a roadrace or cross country running event... |
27:29.16 | 32:57.17 | ||
| Half Marathon Half marathon A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a... |
1:02:16 | 1:13:59 | ||
| Marathon |
2:09:01 | 2:30:27 | ||
| 110 m/100 m Hurdles Hurdling Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women... |
13.21 | 12.36 | ||
| 400 m Hurdles Hurdling Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women... |
47.13 | 54.28 | ||
| 3,000 m Steeplechase Steeplechase (athletics) The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each... |
8:09.70 | — | — | |
| 4×100 m Relay Race Relay race During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games... |
Vladimir Muravyov Vladimir Muravyov Vladimir Pavlovich Muravyov is a former Soviet athlete, winner of two gold medals in 4×100 m relay at the Olympic Games.He was also 3 times Soviet champion outdoors, and 2 times indoor champion.... Nikolay Sidorov Nikolay Sidorov Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sidorov is a former Soviet track and field athlete where he won the soviet 100 metre championships on 2 occasions, he was then the winner of the gold medal in the 4x100 m relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics.... Aleksandr Aksinin Aleksandr Aksinin Aleksandr Timofeyevich Aksinin is a former Soviet athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics.Aleksandr Aksinin trained at Dynamo in Leningrad. At the 1976 Summer Olympics he won the bronze medal as a member of Soviet 4x100 m relay team. He won silver in 1975, bronze... Andrey Prokofyev Andrey Prokofyev Andrey Vassilyevich Prokofyev is a former Soviet athlete, winner of a gold medal in the 4x100 m relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics.At the Moscow Olympics, Prokofyev was fourth in the 110 m hurdles and won the gold medal running the anchoring leg of the Soviet 4x100 m relay team... |
38.26 | Romy Müller Romy Müller Romy Müller is an East German athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres and for the SC Dynamo Berlin and the Sportvereinigung Dynamo.... Bärbel Wöckel Bärbel Wöckel Bärbel Wöckel, née Eckert is a retired East German sprinter who specialized in the 200 metres.She won four Olympic gold medals, two each in the 1976 and 1980 Olympics... Ingrid Auerswald Ingrid Auerswald Ingrid Lange, née Brestrich, divorced Auerswald is a retired German athlete, who competed mainly in the 100 metres.... Marlies Göhr Marlies Göhr Marlies Göhr is a former East German athlete, the winner of the 100 m at the inaugural World Championships in 1983. She ranked in the top 10 of the 100 m world rankings for twelve straight years, ranking first in six of those years... |
41.60 |
| 4×400 m Relay Race Relay race During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games... |
Remigijus Valyulis Mikhail Linge Mikhail Linge Mikhail Innokentyevich Linge was a gold medalist in the men's 4x400 m relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics for the Soviet Union.... Nikolay Chernyetskiy Viktor Markin Viktor Markin Viktor Fyodorovich Markin is a former Soviet athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics.... |
3:01.08 | Tatyana Prorochenko Tatyana Prorochenko Tatyana Prorochenko is a Soviet athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.Prorochenko trained at VSS Kolos in Zaporozhye... Tatyana Goyshchik Tatyana Goistchik Tatyana Gennadievna Goistchik is a Soviet athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.She trained at VSS Trud in Irkutsk... Nina Zyuskova Nina Zyuskova Nina Anatolyevna Zyuskova is a Soviet athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.She competed for the USSR in the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow where she won the Gold medal with her team mates Tatyana Prorochenko, Tatyana Goistchik and Irina Nazarova in the women's 4x400 metres... Irina Nazarova |
3:20.12 |
| Event | Men's Field Best Year Performance | Women's Field Best Year Performance | ||
| Name | Mark | Name | Mark | |
| High Jump High jump The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years.... |
2.36 m | 1.98 m | ||
| Pole Vault Pole vault Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts... |
5.78 m | — | — | |
| Long Jump Long jump The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point... |
8.54 m | 7.06 m | ||
| Triple Jump Triple jump The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a... |
17.35 m | — | — | |
| Shot Put Shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action.... |
21.98 m | 22.45 m | ||
| Discus Throw Discus throw The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus... |
70.98 m | 71.80 m | ||
| Hammer Throw Hammer throw The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown... |
81.80 m | — | — | |
| Javelin (old design) Javelin throw The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon... |
96.72 m | 70.08 m | ||
| Decathlon Decathlon The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not... |
8667 | — | — | |
| Pentathlon Pentathlon A pentathlon is a contest featuring five different events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente and -athlon . The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Ancient Olympic Games... |
— | — | 5083 | |
January
- January 1 — Masumi AyaMasumi Ayais a Japanese hammer thrower. Her personal best throw is 67.26 metres, achieved in August 2006 in Toyama.-Achievements:-References:...
, Japanese hammer thrower - January 2 — Yusuke YachiYusuke YachiYusuke Yachi is a Japanese race walker.He finished seventeenth at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, in his major international debut race.-Achievements:-References:...
, Japanese race walker - January 7 — Lívia TóthLívia TóthLívia Tóth is a Hungarian runner who specializes in the 3000 metre steeplechase.-Achievements:-Personal bests:*800 metres - 2:04.86 min *1500 metres - 4:09.28 min *3000 metres - 8:58.53 min...
, Hungarian distance runner - January 8 — Mitsuhiro SatoMitsuhiro Satois a Japanese sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres.He finished fourth in 4x400 m relay at the 2004 Olympic Games, together with teammates Yuki Yamaguchi, Jun Osakada and Tomohiro Ito. Sato also competed at the World Championships in 2003 and 2005....
, Japanese sprinter - January 11 — Li Xiaoxue, Chinese hammer thrower
- January 19 — Matic OsovnikarMatic OsovnikarMatic Osovnikar is a Slovenian athlete specializing in the 100 metres.Osovnikar competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics where he achieved third place in his 100 metres heat, thus making through to the second round but narrowly missed out on a placing in the semi-finals after achieving fourth place in...
, Slovenian sprinter - January 21 — Elva GoulbourneElva GoulbourneElva Elizabeth Goulbourne is a Jamaican athlete competing in the long jump. Her personal best result is 7.16 metres, achieved in 2004.- Achievements :*1st IAAF World Athletics Final - sixth place...
, Jamaican long jumper - January 25 — Christian OlssonChristian OlssonChristian Olsson is a Swedish athlete competing in high jump and triple jump. He has won an Olympic gold medal, three gold and one silver medal in the World Championships and two gold medals in the European Championships...
, Swedish athlete - January 27 — Naleya DownerNaleya DownerNaleya Downer is a retired female track and field sprinter from Jamaica, who competed in the 400 metres and the 400 metres hurdles during her career. Her personal best time in the women's 400 metres is 52.61, set on May 4, 2002 in Austin, Texas...
, Jamaican sprinter - January 31 — Joel BrownJoel BrownJoel Brown is an American hurdler.He finished sixth at the 2005 World Championships and seventh at the 2005 World Athletics Final....
, American hurdler - January 31 — Adriana PirteaAdriana PirteaAdriana Pirtea is an American long-distance runner who made her marathon debut in the Chicago Marathon held on October 7, 2007 with a second place finish...
, Romanian long-distance runner
February
- February 3 — Markus EsserMarkus EsserMarkus Esser is a male hammer thrower from Germany. His personal best is 81.10 metres, achieved in July 2006 in Leverkusen. This ranks him eighth among German hammer throwers, behind Ralf Haber, Heinz Weis, Karsten Kobs, Günter Rodehau, Holger Klose, Christoph Sahner and Klaus Ploghaus....
, German hammer thrower - February 3 — Sini PöyrySini PöyrySini Tuuli Susanne Pöyry is a retired female hammer thrower from Finland. Her personal best throw is 69.16 metres, achieved in July 2004 in Kaustinen. She was nicknamed "Sintsa".-Achievements:-References:*...
, Finnish hammer thrower - February 4 — Yared AsmeromYared AsmeromYared Asmerom Tesfit is an Eritrean long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon races. He was born in Asmara....
, Eritrean long-distance runner - February 4 — Gary KikayaGary KikayaGary Kikaya is an athlete competing internationally for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 400 metres. He was born in Lubumbashi....
, Congolese sprinter - February 7 — Emma AniaEmma AniaEmma Ania is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Great Britain.Ania represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She competed at the 4x100 metres relay together with Jeanette Kwakye, Montell Douglas and Emily Freeman...
, British sprinter - February 11 — Karin RuckstuhlKarin RuckstuhlKarin Nathalie Ruckstuhl is a Dutch heptathlete.-Biography:Her first major championship was the 2002 European Athletics Championships and she finished 13th in the heptathlon...
, Dutch heptathlete - February 13 — Tetyana HolovchenkoTetyana HolovchenkoTetyana Holovchenko is a Ukrainian middle/long-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 and 3000 metres.-Achievements:-Personal bests:*800 metres - 2:00.81 min *1500 metres - 4:05.01 min...
, Ukrainian distance runner - February 13 — Irina NaumenkoIrina Naumenko-Achievements:Naumenko was 2nd at the Hexham International Combined Events Meeting in 2005 www.hexham-meeting.org-External links:*...
, Kazakhstani heptathlete - February 20 — Bram SomBram SomBram Som is a Dutch runner who specializes in the 800 metres. His personal best time of 1:43.45 minutes, achieved in August 2006 in Zürich, is also the current Dutch National Record. He missed the 2005 season, but returned in 2006 to win the national Dutch championship for the fifth time since 2000...
, Dutch track and field athlete - February 21 — Takayuki MatsumiyaTakayuki MatsumiyaTakayuki Matsumiya is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in marathon races. He holds the Asian record and Japanese record over 25 km and 30 km. He has a twin brother, Yuko, who is also a top-level marathon runner....
, Japanese long-distance runner - February 24 — Aki HeikkinenAki HeikkinenAki Heikkinen is a Finnish decathlete. His personal best result was 8188 points, achieved in August 2000 in Lahti.-Achievements:-External links:...
, Finnish decathlete - February 25 — Marisa BarrosMarisa BarrosElisa Marisa Branco Barros Rodrigues is a female long-distance runner from Portugal who specialises in marathon running. She ran for her country at the 2008 Summer Olympics and was sixth at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics...
, Portuguese long-distance runner - February 26 — Irina ButorIrina Butor-Achievements:-External links:...
, Belarusian heptathlete
March
- March 3 — Nikolett SzabóNikolett SzabóNikolett Szabó is a female javelin thrower from Hungary. Her personal best throw is 64.62 metres, achieved in July 2001 in Patra.-Achievements:-References:...
, Hungarian javelin thrower - March 7 — Olli-Pekka KarjalainenOlli-Pekka KarjalainenOlli-Pekka Karjalainen is a Finnish hammer thrower.The 1998 World Junior Champion, Karjalainen is the world junior record holder with 78.33 metres . His personal best throw is 83.30, achieved in July 2004 in Lahti....
, Finnish hammer thrower - March 12 — California MolefeCalifornia MolefeCalifornia Molefe is a Botswana sprinter runner who won a silver medal in 400 metres at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow, becoming the first Botswana athlete to win a major international medal....
, Botswanan athlete - March 15 — Kim Il-NamKim Il-NamKim Il-Nam is a North Korean long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.He competed in the 2008 Olympic marathon.Her personal best time is 2:14:38 hours, achieved at the 2008 Pyongyang Marathon.-References:...
, North Korean long-distance runner - March 19 — Justus KoechJustus KoechJustus Koech is a Kenyan middle distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres.He finished sixth at the 2003 World Championships in Paris and won a bronze medal at the 2003 All-Africa Games in Abuja....
, Kenyan middle distance runner - March 23 — Teja MelinkTeja MelinkTeja Melink is a Slovenian pole vaulter.She finished seventh at the 2005 Summer Universiade. She also competed at the 1998 European Championships, the 2002 European Indoor Championships, the 2004 Olympic Games, the 2005 European Indoor Championships and the 2005 World Championships without...
, Slovenian pole vaulter - March 30 — Amélie PerrinAmélie PerrinAmélie Perrin is a female hammer thrower from France. Her personal best throw is 71.38 metres, achieved in July 2006 in Sotteville.-Achievements:-References:*...
, Franch hammer thrower
April
- April 6 — Tommi EviläTommi EviläTommi Evilä is a Finnish long jumper. He gained fame following his surprise bronze in the 2005 Helsinki World Championships, which was Finland's only medal in the games....
, Finnish long jumper - April 13 — Boštjan BučBoštjan BucBoštjan Buč is a track and field athlete from Slovenia, competing in the middle-distance events. He is the current Slovenian record holder in the men's 3.000 metres steeplechase, clocking 8:16.96 on June 12, 2003 at a meet in Ostrava. He represented his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics...
, Slovenian track and field athlete - April 17 — Igors KazakevičsIgors KazakevicsIgors Kazakevičs is a Latvian race walker.-Achievements:-References:*...
, Latvian race walker - April 18 — Wojciech KondratowiczWojciech KondratowiczWojciech Kondratowicz is a male hammer thrower from Poland. He set his personal best on 13 July 2003 in Bydgoszcz.-Achievements:-References:*...
, Polish hammer thrower - April 19 — Gudisa ShentemaGudisa ShentemaGudisa Shentema is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.He won a bronze medal at the 2003 All-Africa Games and finished thirteenth at the 2005 World Championships...
, Ethiopian long-distance runner
May
- May 1 — Inês HenriquesInês HenriquesInês Henriques is a Portuguese race walker.-Achievements:-References:...
, Portuguese race walker - May 2 — Chris BoylesChris BoylesChristopher David Boyles is an American decathlete.He finished 6th at the 2007 Pan American Games held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil...
, American decathlete - May 2 — Ronetta SmithRonetta SmithRonetta Smith is a Jamaican sprinter.A 400m runner with a personal best of 51.23 , Smith has never reached an international final in an individual race. However, she was a part of the Jamaican 4 x 400 meters relay teams that won the bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships and the silver medal...
, Jamaican sprinter - May 10 — Mayumi KawasakiMayumi Kawasaki-Achievements:-References:...
, Japanese race walker - May 14 — Eugène MartineauEugène Martineau (athlete)Eugène Julien Martineau is a Dutch decathlete.-Achievements:-External links:...
, Dutch decathlete - May 17 — Tatyana SibilevaTatyana Sibileva-Achievements:-References:*...
, Russian race walker - May 20 — Chinatsu MoriChinatsu Moriwas a Japanese shot putter. Her personal best throw is 18.22 metres, achieved in April 2004 in Hamamatsu. This is the current Japanese record....
, Japanese shot putter (d. 2006) - May 23 — Ri Kum-SongRi Kum-SongRi Kum-Song is a North Korean long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.He competed in the 2008 Olympic marathon. He also finished eighth at the 2006 Asian Games....
, North Korean long-distance runner
June
- June 2 — Shingo SuetsuguShingo Suetsuguis a Japanese sprinter. He is the Asian record holder in the 200 metres and 4×100 metres relay.Suetsugu won a bronze medal in the 200 metres event at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in a time of 20.38 seconds. The same year he set an Asian record of 20.03 seconds at the Japanese...
, Japanese track and field athlete - June 8 — Vânia SilvaVânia SilvaVânia Sofia de Sousa Silva is a female hammer thrower from Portugal. Her personal best throw is 69.55 metres, achieved in May 2011 in Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal...
, Portuguese hammer thrower - June 13 — Alistair Cragg, Irish distance runner
- June 17 — Shitaye GemechuShitaye GemechuShitaye Gemechu is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, who specializes in marathon races. Shitaye was the women's winner of the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon for the years 2004 - 2006. She won the 2007 edition of the Treviso Marathon....
, Ethiopian long-distance runner - June 19 — Sanjay AyreSanjay AyreSanjay Claude Ayre is a world-class Jamaican sprinter specializing in the 400 meters.Puma North America Signed Ayre to an undisclosed record 3 year contract in June 2003. Together with Brandon Simpson, Lansford Spence and Davian Clarke he won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2005...
, Jamaican athlete
July
- July 5 — Park Ju-YoungPark Ju-YoungPark Ju-Young is a South Korean long-distance runner.He finished fifth in the half marathon at the 2003 Summer Universiade, and fifteenth in the marathon at the 2007 World Championships....
, South Korean long-distance runner - July 8 — Noraldo PalaciosNoraldo PalaciosNoraldo Palacios Rivas is a Colombian javelin thrower. His personal best throw is 79.09 metres, achieved in October 2006 in Tunja....
, Colombian javelin thrower - July 9 — Brooke Krueger, Australian hammer thrower
- July 12 — Mikko KyyröMikko KyyröMikko Tapio Kyyrö is a male discus thrower from Finland. His personal best throw is 64.14 metres, achieved on June 29, 2007 in Jalasjärvi....
, Finnish discus thrower - July 17 — Rashid RamziRashid RamziRashid Ramzi is a Moroccan-Bahraini track and field athlete competing internationally for Bahrain in the 800 metres and 1500 metres. Ramzi was investigated by the IAAF after the 2008 Summer Games and was stripped of his gold medal for doping.Ramzi was born in Asfi, Morocco...
, Moroccan athlete - July 24 — Wilfred BungeiWilfred BungeiWilfred Kipkemboi Bungei is a Kenyan middle distance runner, who won the 800 m gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing...
, Kenyan middle distance runner - July 27 — Alena Neumiarzhitskaya, Belarusian sprinter
- July 31 — Masato NaitoMasato Naitois a Japanese hurdler.He finished fourth at the 2005 Asian Championships and third at the 2006 Asian Games. He also competed at the World Championships in 2001, 2003 and 2005 as well as the 2004 Olympic Games without reaching the final round....
, Japanese hurdler
August
- August 11 — Monika PyrekMonika PyrekMonika Pyrek is a Polish pole vaulter.Born in Gdynia, competing at the 2004 Olympics, she placed fourth with 4.55 metres, just behind another Polish pole vaulter born in Gdynia, Anna Rogowska. Monika Pyrek won a silver medal in the 2005 World Championships in Athletics with the result 4.60 m...
, Polish pole vaulter - August 23 — Bronwyn EaglesBronwyn EaglesBronwyn Eagles is an Australian Olympic athlete who competes in the hammer throw.Eagles has won five Australian Championships in the women's hammer throw event...
, Australian hammer thrower - August 23 — Roisin McGettiganRoisin McGettiganRoisin McGettigan is an Irish runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She graduated from Providence College in 2003. She competed in the her first Olympic Games in 2008 in Beijing...
, Irish distance runner - August 24 — Shani MarksShani MarksShani Marks is an American athlete who competes in the triple jump. Marks finished first at the U.S...
, American triple jumper - August 29 — Perdita FelicienPerdita FelicienPerdita Felicien is a Canadian hurdler.-Early life:Felicien carries her mother's maiden name, whose origins are in the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia...
, Canadian track and field athlete
September
- September 6 — Nailiya YulamanovaNailiya YulamanovaNailiya Yulamanova is a Russian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.She won the Saransk Marathon in 2006 and went on to finish twelfth at the 2006 European Championships and 32nd at the 2007 World Championships. She won the Prague International Marathon in 2007 and the Istanbul...
, Russian long-distance runner - September 6 — Gulnara VygovskayaGulnara VygovskayaGulnara Vygovskaya is a Russian long-distance runner who specializes in marathon races.She finished twelfth at the 2006 World Road Running Championships, helping the Russian team take a fifth place in the team competition....
, Russian long-distance runner - September 8 — Mbulaeni MulaudziMbulaeni MulaudziMbulaeni Tongai Mulaudzi is a South African middle distance runner, and the 2009 world champion in the men's 800 metres. He carried the flag at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece for his native country...
, South African middle distance runner - September 16 — Lukáš MelichLukáš MelichLukáš Melich is a male hammer thrower from the Czech Republic. His personal best throw is 79.36 metres, achieved in July 2005 in Turnov.-Achievements:-References:...
, Czech hammer thrower - September 25 — Jennifer JoyceJennifer JoyceJennifer Joyce is a Canadian hammer thrower.While growing up outside of Vancouver, Joyce excelled in multiple sports as a child. In addition to athletics, she participated in soccer and volleyball, earning a spot on the British Columbia soccer provincial team in 1994...
, Canadian hammer thrower - September 28 — Maurice SmithMaurice Smith (decathlon)Maurice Smith is a decathlete from Jamaica. He competed for Auburn University. He represented his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, finishing in 14th place. He broke the Pan American Games decathlon record in 2007, winning his first international gold medal...
, Jamaican decathlete
October
- October 7 — Clarissa ClarettiClarissa ClarettiClarissa Claretti is an Italian hammer thrower. Her personal best throw is 72.46 metres, achieved in July 2008 in Cagliari.-Achievements:-References:...
, Italian hammer thrower - October 7 — Olesya ZykinaOlesya ZykinaOlesya Nikolaevna Zykina is a Russian athlete who mainly competes in the 400 metres. In addition to winning medals in individual contests, she has been a very successful relay runner, winning the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics.-Achievements:...
, Russian track and field athlete - October 16 — Maureen Griffin, American hammer thrower
- October 26 — Deriba Merga, Ethiopian long-distance runner
November
- November 9 — Timicka ClarkeTimicka ClarkeTimicka Clarke is a Bahamian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres. Her personal best time is 11.33 seconds, achieved in July 2003 in St...
, Bahamian sprinter - November 14 — Naoko SakamotoNaoko Sakamotois a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon race.-Achievements:-Personal bests:*5000 metres - 15:45.75 min *10,000 metres - 33:06.17 min *Half marathon - 1:09:27 hrs...
, Japanese long-distance runner - November 19 — Yipsi MorenoYipsi MorenoYipsi Moreno González is a Cuban hammer thrower. She is a double world champion and Olympic silver medalist, a former world junior record holder and current area record holder...
, Cuban hammer thrower - November 24 — Zoe DerhamZoe DerhamZoe Lianne Derham is a female hammer thrower from England. Her personal best throw is 68.63 metres, achieved in July 2008 in Loughborough. This places her second on the British all-time list, behind Lorraine Shaw, who is also her coach.-Achievements:-External links:**...
, English hammer thrower
December
- December 12 — Dejene Berhanu, Ethiopian runner
- December 13 — Venera GetovaVenera GetovaVenera Getova is a female discus thrower from Bulgaria. Her personal best is 59.08 metres, achieved in June 2008 in Sofia.She competed at the 2008 Olympic Games at the 2009 World Championships without reaching the final.-References:*...
, Bulgarian discus thrower - December 17 — Alexandra PapageorgiouAlexandra PapageorgiouAlexandra Papageorgiou is a female hammer thrower from Greece. Her personal best throw is 70.73 metres, achieved on August 1, 2009 in Thessaloniki. This places her second on the Greek all-time list, behind Stiliani Papadopoulou.-Achievements:...
, Greek hammer thrower
Deaths
- February 11 — Paavo YrjöläPaavo YrjöläPaavo Ilmari Yrjölä , also known as the Bear of Hämeenkyrö , was a Finnish track and field athlete who won the gold medal in the decathlon at the Olympics in 1928....
(77), Finnish decathlete (b. 1902) - February 21 — Mario LanziMario LanziMario Lanzi was an Italian athlete in the 1930s who specialised in the 800m and also competed over 400m.-Life:Lanzi was born at Castelletto sopra Ticino, in the province of Novara ....
(63), Italian middle distance runner (b. 1914) - March 31 — Jesse OwensJesse OwensJames Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
(66), American sprinter (b. 1913) - May 9 — Rolf Hansen (73), Norwegian long-distance runner (b. 1906)
- December 24 — Heikki LiimatainenHeikki Liimatainen (athlete)Heikki Liimatainen was a Finnish athlete who competed mainly in the Cross Country Team.He competed for Finland in the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium in the Cross Country where he won the bronze medal and helped the Finnish team of multiple gold medalist Paavo Nurmi and Teodor...
(86), Finnish long-distance runner (b. 1894)