Sprint hurdles at the Olympics

Last updated

Sprint hurdles
at the Olympic Games
2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 110m Hurdles - Semifinal 1.jpg
The 2008 Olympic men's 110 m hurdles semi-final
Overview
Sport Athletics
GenderMen and women
Years heldMen 110 m: 18962020
Men 200 m: 19001904
Women 80 m: 19321968
Women 100 m: 19722020
Olympic record
MenFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Liu Xiang  (CHN) 12.91 (2004)
WomenFlag of Puerto Rico.svg  Jasmine Camacho-Quinn  (PRI) 12.26 (2021)
Reigning champion
MenFlag of the United States.svg  Grant Holloway  (USA)
WomenFlag of the United States.svg  Masai Russell  (USA)

The sprint hurdles at the Summer Olympics have been contested over a variety of distances at the multi-sport event. The men's 110 metres hurdles has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since the first edition in 1896. A men's 200 metres hurdles was also briefly held, from 1900 to 1904. The first women's sprint hurdling event was added to the programme at the 1932 Olympics in the form of the 80 metres hurdles. At the 1972 Games the women's distance was extended to the 100 metres hurdles, which is the current international standard.

Contents

The Olympic records are 12.91 seconds for the men's 110 m hurdles, set by Liu Xiang in 2004, and 12.26 seconds for the women's 100 m hurdles, set by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in 2020. The fastest time recorded at the Olympics for the men's 200 m hurdles was 24.6 seconds by 1904 winner Harry Hillman. Maureen Caird won the last women's Olympic 80 m hurdles race in 1968 with a record of 10.39 seconds. The men's 110 m hurdles world record has been broken at the Olympics on six occasions: 1908, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1972, 2004, and 2012. The women's 100 m hurdles world record has been broken only once, by Annelie Ehrhardt at the inaugural 1972 Olympic final. [1] In contrast the 80 m hurdles world record was set at the Olympics in 1932 (four times), 1936, and 1952 (twice). [2]

Only three athletes have won two Olympic sprint hurdles gold medals: on the men's side, Lee Calhoun, and Roger Kingdom, and on the women's side Shirley Strickland. Strickland is also the only athlete to win three such Olympic medals, having won a bronze medal before her victories. Alvin Kraenzlein is the only athlete to have won two hurdles medals at the same Olympics, having taken the 110 m and 200 m titles. Historically, hurdlers also competed in other individual sprinting events (Harrison Dillard and Fanny Blankers-Koen were also 100 metres Olympic champions), but this became rare after the 1950s.

The United States has been the most successful nation in the men's event with 19 gold medals and 56 medals in total. Though less dominant in the women's events, the U.S. also has the most women's gold medals, with five.

Medal summary

Men's 110 metres hurdles

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1896 Athens
details
Thomas Curtis
US flag 44 stars.svg  United States
Grantley Goulding
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
none awarded
1900 Paris
details
Alvin Kraenzlein
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
John McLean
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Fred Moloney
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
1904 St. Louis
details
Frederick Schule
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Thaddeus Shideler
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Lesley Ashburner
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
1908 London
details
Forrest Smithson
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
John Garrels
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Arthur Shaw
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
1912 Stockholm
details
Fred Kelly
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
James Wendell
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Martin Hawkins
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1920 Antwerp
details
Earl Thomson
Flag of Canada (1868-1921).svg  Canada
Harold Barron
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Feg Murray
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1924 Paris
details
Daniel Kinsey
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Sid Atkinson
Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg  South Africa
Sten Pettersson
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
1928 Amsterdam
details
Sid Atkinson
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
Steve Anderson
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
John Collier
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1932 Los Angeles
details
George Saling
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Percy Beard
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Don Finlay
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
1936 Berlin
details
Forrest Towns
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Don Finlay
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Fritz Pollard
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1948 London
details
William Porter
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Clyde Scott
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Craig Dixon
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1952 Helsinki
details
Harrison Dillard
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Jack Davis
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Arthur Barnard
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1956 Melbourne
details
Lee Calhoun
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Jack Davis
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Joel Shankle
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1960 Rome
details
Lee Calhoun
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Willie May
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Hayes Jones
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1964 Tokyo
details
Hayes Jones
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Blaine Lindgren
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Anatoly Mikhailov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1968 Mexico City
details
Willie Davenport
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ervin Hall
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Eddy Ottoz
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
1972 Munich
details
Rod Milburn
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Guy Drut
Flag of France.svg  France
Thomas Hill
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1976 Montreal
details
Guy Drut
Flag of France.svg  France
Alejandro Casañas
Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba
Willie Davenport
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1980 Moscow
details
Thomas Munkelt
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Alejandro Casañas
Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba
Aleksandr Puchkov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1984 Los Angeles
details
Roger Kingdom
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Greg Foster
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Arto Bryggare
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
1988 Seoul
details
Roger Kingdom
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Colin Jackson
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Tonie Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1992 Barcelona
details
Mark McKoy
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Tony Dees
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Jack Pierce
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1996 Atlanta
details
Allen Johnson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Mark Crear
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Florian Schwarthoff
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2000 Sydney
details
Anier García
Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba
Terrence Trammell
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Mark Crear
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2004 Athens
details
Liu Xiang
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Terrence Trammell
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Anier García
Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba
2008 Beijing
details
Dayron Robles
Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba
David Payne
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
David Oliver
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2012 London
details
Aries Merritt
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Jason Richardson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Hansle Parchment
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Omar McLeod
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Orlando Ortega
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Dimitri Bascou
Flag of France.svg  France
2020 Tokyo
details
Hansle Parchment
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Grant Holloway
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ronald Levy
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
2024 Paris
details
Grant Holloway
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Daniel Roberts
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Rasheed Broadbell
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationOlympicsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Lee Calhoun Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1956–19602002
Roger Kingdom Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1984–19882002
3 Sydney Atkinson Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)1924–19281102
Guy Drut Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)1972–19761102
Grant Holloway Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2020–20241102
6 Hayes Jones Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1960–19641012
Willie Davenport Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1968–19761012
Anier Garcia Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)2000–20041012
Hansle Parchment Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)2012–20201012
10 Jack Davis Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1952–19560202
Alejandro Casanas Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)1976–19800202
Terrence Trammell Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2000–20040202
13 Don Finlay Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)1932–19360112
Mark Crear Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1996–20000112

Medals by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)20221759
2Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)2215
3Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)2035
4Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)2002
5Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)1113
6Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)1102
7Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China  (CHN)1001
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)1001
9Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0314
10Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)0101
11Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)0022
12Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)0011
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)0011
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)0011
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)0011

Women's 80 metres hurdles

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1932 Los Angeles
details
Babe Didrikson
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Evelyne Hall
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Marjorie Clark
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
1936 Berlin
details
Ondina Valla
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy
Anni Steuer
Flag of the German Reich (1935-1945).svg  Germany
Elizabeth Taylor
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957 (with disc).svg  Canada
1948 London
details
Fanny Blankers-Koen
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Maureen Gardner
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Shirley Strickland
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1952 Helsinki
details
Shirley Strickland de la Hunty
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Maria Golubnichaya
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
Maria Sander
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1956 Melbourne
details
Shirley Strickland de la Hunty
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Gisela Köhler
Flag of Germany.svg  United Team of Germany
Norma Thrower
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1960 Rome
details
Irina Press
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Carole Quinton
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Gisela Birkemeyer
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany
1964 Tokyo
details
Karin Balzer
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany
Teresa Ciepły
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland
Pam Kilborn
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1968 Mexico City
details
Maureen Caird
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Pam Kilborn
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Chi Cheng
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationOlympicsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Shirley Strickland Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)1948–19562013
2 Gisela Birkemeyer Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany  (EUA)1956–19600112
Pam Kilborn Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)1964–19680112

Medalists by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)3137
2Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER) [nb] 1225
3Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1102
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1102
5Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)1001
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)1001
7Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0202
8Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)0101
9Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)0011
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China  (ROC)0011
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)0011

Women's 100 metres hurdles

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1972 Munich
details
Annelie Ehrhardt
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Valeria Bufanu
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania
Karin Balzer
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
1976 Montreal
details
Johanna Schaller
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Tatyana Anisimova
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Natalya Lebedeva
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1980 Moscow
details
Vera Komisova
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Johanna Klier
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Lucyna Langer
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
1984 Los Angeles
details
Benita Fitzgerald
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Shirley Strong
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Michèle Chardonnet
Flag of France.svg  France
Kim Turner
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1988 Seoul
details
Yordanka Donkova
Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg  Bulgaria
Gloria Siebert
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Claudia Zaczkiewicz
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
1992 Barcelona
details
Voula Patoulidou
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
LaVonna Martin
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Yordanka Donkova
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
1996 Atlanta
details
Ludmila Engquist
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Brigita Bukovec
Civil Ensign of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Patricia Girard
Flag of France.svg  France
2000 Sydney
details
Olga Shishigina
Flag of Kazakhstan (3-2).svg  Kazakhstan
Glory Alozie
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Melissa Morrison
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2004 Athens
details
Joanna Hayes
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Olena Krasovska
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
Melissa Morrison
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2008 Beijing
details
Dawn Harper
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Sally Pearson
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2012 London
details
Sally Pearson
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Dawn Harper
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Kellie Wells
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Brianna Rollins
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Nia Ali
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Kristi Castlin
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2020 Tokyo
details
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Kendra Harrison
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Megan Tapper
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
2024 Paris
details
Masai Russell
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Cyréna Samba-Mayela
Flag of France.svg  France
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationOlympicsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Johanna Schaller Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)1976–19801102
Sally Pearson Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)2008–20121102
Dawn Harper Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2008–20121102
4 Yordanka Donkova Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)1988–19921012
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 2020–20241012
6 Melissa Morrison Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2000–20040112

Medalists by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)54514
2Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)2215
3Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1113
4Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)1102
5Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)1012
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico  (PUR)1012
7Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)1001
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan  (KAZ)1001
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)1001
10Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)0123
11Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0101
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  (NGR)0101
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania  (ROU)0101
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia  (SLO)0101
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)0101
17Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)0011
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)0011
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany  (FRG)0011
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)0011

200 metres hurdles

For a brief period, a men's Olympic 200 metres low hurdles race was held. It was a relatively common event in the early 1900s. With only two appearances in 1900 and 1904, the event's removal as an Olympic event marked the beginning of a steady decline of its popularity over the course of the 20th century and it is now a rarity. The 1900 event was won by Alvin Kraenzlein, who won four gold medals that year, including the 110 m hurdles title. [3] The second and final 200 m hurdles champion, Harry Hillman, was again a multiple gold medallist, as the American won the 400 metres sprint and 400 metres hurdles Olympic titles at that games. [4]

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1900 Paris
details
US flag 45 stars.svg  Alvin Kraenzlein  (USA)British Raj Red Ensign.svg  Norman Pritchard  (IND)US flag 45 stars.svg  Walter Tewksbury  (USA)
1904 St. Louis
details
US flag 45 stars.svg  Harry Hillman  (USA)US flag 45 stars.svg  Frank Castleman  (USA)US flag 45 stars.svg  George Poage  (USA)

Finishing Times

Top ten fastest Olympic times

Intercalated Games

The 1906 Intercalated Games were held in Athens and at the time were officially recognised as part of the Olympic Games series, with the intention being to hold a games in Greece in two-year intervals between the internationally held Olympics. However, this plan never came to fruition and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later decided not to recognise these games as part of the official Olympic series. Some sports historians continue to treat the results of these games as part of the Olympic canon. [7]

At this event a men's 110 m hurdles race was held. For the top two finishers, American hurdler Robert Leavitt and British athlete Alfred Healey, this was the peak of their respective careers. [8] Bronze medalist Vincent Duncker of Germany was the joint 100 metres world record holder at the time. [9]

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1906 Athens
details
US flag 45 stars.svg  Robert Leavitt  (USA)Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Alfred Healey  (GBR)Flag of the German Empire.svg  Vincent Duncker  (GER)

References

Participation and athlete data
Olympic record progressions
Specific
  1. "13th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Daegu 2011. (Part 5 of 5)". Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2011. pp. 546, 553, 595, 697, 698. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  2. Women, 80 m Hurdles > World Records Progression. Brinkster. Retrieved on 2014-06-28.
  3. Al Kraenzlein. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-08.
  4. Harry Hillman. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-08.
  5. "Men's 110m Hurdles".
  6. "Women's 100m Hurdles".
  7. 1906 Athina Summer Games. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-07.
  8. Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's 110 metres Hurdles. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-07.
  9. Men, 100 m > World Records Progression. Brinkster Track and Field. Retrieved on 2014-02-02.