The 2008 Beijing Olympic athletics program saw world records broken in five events but was later marred by widespread doping disqualifications affecting nearly half of all events.
Key Facts
- Events contested
- 47 total (24 men, 23 women)
- Olympic records broken
- 17
- World records broken
- 5
- Events with medal amendments
- 19 of 47
- Russia medals stripped
- 9
- Dates held
- August 15–24, 2008
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, with the athletics program scheduled across the final ten days of competition at the newly constructed Beijing National Stadium. The program included track and field, road running, and racewalking events, and introduced the inaugural women's 3000 m steeplechase to the Olympic schedule.
From August 15 to 24, 2008, men competed in 24 events and women in 23. Olympic records fell in 17 events and world records in five. China, despite topping the overall medal table, won only two bronze medals in athletics; its star athlete Liu Xiang withdrew from the 110 m hurdles due to injury after a false start.
In the years following the Games, doping retests led to medal amendments in 19 of the 47 events. Multiple athletes were sanctioned, with Russia having the most medals stripped at nine, significantly altering the historical record of the athletics competition.
Result
at Beijing National Stadium