Olympics athletics schedule: Tokyo 2020 athletics start date, times, events
Your complete guide to athletics at the Olympics including full schedule of when the events start, dates, times, details about each competition and more.
The athletics events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are underway, with nations across the globe ready to tune in for more than a week of non-stop track and field drama, including the revered men's and women's 100m finals.
A grand total of 48 medals are up for grabs with rapid sprinters, endurance runners, flexible jumpers and mighty throwers all competing for glory in their various disciplines.
Team GB will be hoping for a grand medal haul in the days to come, with Dina Asher-Smith leading the charge as she goes for glory across various sprinting events.
- Viewers who are looking to watch each and every sport from the Tokyo Olympics 2020, you can tune in for full coverage via online streaming platform discovery+
Usain Bolt, Jess Ennis-Hill and Mo Farah may no longer be competing, but watch out for a host of fresh superstars ready to etch their names into the history books.
Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson are among the next-gen Team GB sensations ready to step up on the biggest stage of all.
Andre De Grasse, Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin will be determined to boost their reputations from star athletes to iconic household names over the coming weeks.
RadioTimes.com brings you up to speed with everything you need to know about athletics at the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo, taking place in the summer of 2021.
When do the athletics start in the Olympics?
Athletics events start on Friday 30th July and run until Sunday 8th August.
There will be 10 complete days of athletics, with the full range of track and field events coming up. Medal finals will take place across the week.
Check out our guide on how to watch Olympics 2020 or see Olympics on TV today for more details, timings, and exclusive expert analysis from some of the biggest names in world sport over the coming weeks.
Sir Chris Hoy, Beth Tweddle, Rebecca Adlington, Matthew Pinsent and Dame Jess Ennis-Hill are among the stars giving their esteemed opinions, so don't miss what they have to say.
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What events are in Olympics athletics?
Morning sessions begin at 1am UK time.
Evening sessions begin at 11am UK time.
100m
Women: Heats (morning, 30th July), Finals (evening, 31st July)
Men: Prelims (morning, 31st July), Heats (evening, 31st July), Finals (evening, 1st Aug)
200m
Women: Heats (evening, 2nd July), Finals (evening, 3rd Aug)
Men: Heats (morning, 3rd Aug), Finals (evening, 4th Aug)
400m
Women: Heats (morning, 3rd Aug), Finals (evening, 6th Aug)
Men: Heats (morning, 1st Aug), Finals (evening, 5th Aug)
800m
Women: Heats (morning, 30th July), Finals (evening, 3rd Aug)
Men: Heats (morning, 31st July), Finals (evening, 4th Aug)
1500m
Women: Heats (morning, 2nd Aug), Finals (evening, 6th Aug)
Men: Heats (morning, 3rd Aug), Finals (evening, 7th Aug)
5000m
Women: Heats (evening, 30th Jul), Finals (evening, 2nd Aug)
Men: Heats (evening, 3rd Aug), Finals (evening, 6th Aug)
10,000m
Women: Evening, 7th Aug
Men: Evening, 30th July
110m hurdles
Women: Heats (morning, 31st July), Finals (morning, 2nd Aug)
Men: Heats (evening, 3rd July), Finals (morning, 5th Aug)
400m hurdles
Women: Heats (morning, 31st July), Finals (morning, 4th Aug)
Men: Heats (morning, 30th July), Finals (morning, 3rd Aug)
3000m steeplechase
Women: Heats (morning, 1st Aug), Finals (evening, 4th Aug)
Men: Heats (morning, 30th July), Finals (evening, 2nd Aug)
4x100m relay
Women: Heats (morning, 5th Aug), Finals (evening, 6th Aug)
Men: Heats (morning, 5th Aug), Finals (evening, 6th Aug)
4x400m relay
Women: Heats (evening, 5th Aug), Finals (evening, 7th Aug)
Men: Heats (evening, 6th Aug), Finals (evening, 7th Aug)
Mixed: Heats (evening, 30th July), Finals (evening, 31st July)
Marathon
Women: Morning, 7th Aug
Men: Morning, 8th Aug
20km walk
Women: Evening, 6th Aug
Men: Evening, 5th Aug
50km walk
Men: Morning, 6th Aug
Long jump
Women: Qualifying (morning, 1st Aug), Finals (morning, 3rd Aug)
Men: Qualifying (evening, 31st July), Finals (morning, 2nd Aug)
Triple jump
Women: Qualifying (evening, 30th July), Finals (evening, 1st Aug)
Men: Qualifying (morning, 3rd Aug), Finals (morning, 5th Aug)
High jump
Women: Qualifying (morning, 5th Aug), Finals (evening, 7th Aug)
Men: Qualifying (morning, 30th July), Finals (evening, 1st Aug)
Pole vault
Women: Qualifying (evening, 2nd Aug), Finals (evening, 5th Aug)
Men: Qualifying (morning, 31st July), Finals (evening, 3rd Aug)
Shot put
Women: Qualifying (evening, 30th July), Finals (morning, 1st Aug)
Men: Qualifying (evening, 3rd Aug), Finals (morning, 5th Aug)
Discus throw
Women: Qualifying (morning, 31st July), Finals (evening, 2nd Aug)
Men: Qualifying (morning, 30th July), Finals (evening, 31st July)
Javelin throw
Women: Qualifying (morning, 3rd Aug), Finals (evening, 6th Aug)
Men: Qualifying (morning, 4th Aug), Finals (evening, 7th Aug)
Hammer throw
Women: Qualifying (morning, 1st Aug), Finals (evening, 3rd Aug)
Men: Qualifying (morning, 2nd Aug), Finals (evening, 4th Aug)
Heptathlon
Women: 4th-5th Aug
Decathlon
Men: 4th-5th Aug
- For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides.
Team GB athletics team/athletes competing
Team GB boasts a great range of athletes competing in the track and field events at Tokyo 2020.
Expect the British female sprinters to enjoy their trip to Tokyo with Dina Asher-Smith leading the way in the individual events and a deep stable of talent to pick from in the 4x100m relay.
Laura Muir and Katarina Johnson-Thompson are the next hottest prospects to add golds to the haul of Team GB medals 2021.
We've listed a few names to look out for:
Dina Asher-Smith: women’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m
Katarina Johnson-Thompson: women’s heptathlon
Tom Bosworth: Athletics: men's 20km race walk
Holly Bradshaw: women’s pole vault
Adam Gemili: men’s 200m and 4x100m
Zharnel Hughes: men’s 100m and 4x100m
Richard Kilty: men’s 4x100m
Imani-Lara Lansiquot: women’s 4x100m
Andrew Pozzi: men's 110m hurdles
Laura Muir: women’s 1,500m
Daryll Neita: women’s 100m and 4x100m
Lawrence Okoye: men’s discus
Asha Philip: women’s 100m and 4x100m
Jemma Reekie: women’s 800m
Chijindu Ujah: men’s 100m and 4x100m
Jake Wightman: men’s 1,500m
Read more – check out our comprehensive guides to the Olympic sports: Badminton | Equestrian | Fencing | Handball | Sailing | Swimming | Volleyball
If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news.
Authors
Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
