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track and field athletics

(Encyclopedia) track and field athletics or athletics, sports of foot racing, hurdling, jumping, vaulting, and throwing varied weights and objects. They are usually separated into two categories:…

athletics

(Encyclopedia) athletics: see track and field athletics.

pole vaulting

(Encyclopedia) pole vaulting: see track and field athletics.

decathlon

(Encyclopedia) decathlondecathlondĭkăthˈlŏn [key], in modern Olympic games, a contest for men held over two days and composed of 10 track-and-field events. It consists of the long jump; the high jump…

Rudolph, Wilma Glodean

(Encyclopedia) Rudolph, Wilma Glodean, 1940–94, American track and field athlete, b. Clarksville, Tenn. The 20th of 22 children, she overcame childhood polio to become one of the premiere athletes of…

Joyner-Kersee, Jackie

(Encyclopedia) Joyner-Kersee, JackieJoyner-Kersee, Jackiejoiˈnər-kûrˈzē [key], 1962–, American track and field athlete, b. East St. Louis, Ill. One of the world's best all-around women athletes, she…

triathlon

(Encyclopedia) triathlon, athletic event made up of three contests. Since the 1970s the term has come to mean especially a race combining swimming, bicycling, and running. A notable example is Hawaii…

Brundage, Avery

(Encyclopedia) Brundage, AveryBrundage, Averyāˈvərē brŭnˈdĭj [key], 1887–1975, American sports executive, b. Detroit, Mich. A member of the 1912 U.S. Olympic track and field team, he became a leader…

Felix, Allyson Michelle

(Encyclopedia) Felix, Allyson Michelle, 1985–, American sprinter, b. Los Angeles. She is a six-time Olympic champion, winning the 200-m (2012), the 4×100-m (2012, 2016), and the 4×400-m races (2008,…

pentathlon

(Encyclopedia) pentathlonpentathlonpĕntăthˈlən [key], composite athletic event. In ancient Greece it comprised leaping, foot racing, wrestling, discus throwing, and casting the javelin. The modern…