About Athletics

Athletics has been a compulsory sport on the Commonwealth Games sport program at every Games dating back to the first Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada in 1930.

While included at every Commonwealth Games, the program has been modified as per the World Athletics requirements.

Events for Athletes with a Disability were first included on the Commonwealth Games program as an exhibition sport at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games. At the Games, the two exhibition sports were the Men’s marathon wheelchair, won by Australian Para-athlete Paul Wiggins, who also won bronze in the Men’s 800m wheelchair event.

However, it was at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England where Para-Sport athletes were fully integrated into their national teams, making them the first fully inclusive international multi-sport Games.

Australian sport legend Raelene Boyle AM MBE has won the most athletics medals at the Commonwealth Games, winning seven gold medals and two silver medals. Boyle displayed her incredible talents at the Edinburgh 1970 British Commonwealth Games winning three gold medals, including the women’s 100m and 200m double, before returning at the Christchurch 1974 British Commonwealth Games to repeat the feat.

The governing body for Athletics in Australia is Australian Athletics.