About Athletics

Athletics has been at the heart of the Commonwealth Games since its inception at Hamilton, Canada in 1930, showcasing some of the most iconic performances in Games history.

From the legendary Herb Elliott’s mile victory in Cardiff 1958 to Cathy Freeman OAM’s golden run in the 200m and 400m at Victoria 1994, Australian athletes have consistently starred on the track and field. The Games have also served as a launching pad for future Olympic champions, including Raelene Boyle AM MBE, who won nine Commonwealth medals between 1970 and 1982.

Memorable moments abound, such as John Landy’s dramatic sportsmanship in Vancouver 1954 and Kerryn McCann’s gold in the marathon at Melbourne 2006. With a proud tradition and a haul of more than 200 medals, Athletics remains a cornerstone of Australia’s Commonwealth Games legacy.

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.

Athletics will feature on the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Sport Program, with Para-athletics to include events across the track, jumping and throwing for the first time. Athletics will also see the introduction of the mixed 4x400m relay, while welcoming back the return of the Commonwealth Mile, an innovative change to the wider global athletics competition.

The governing body for Athletics in Australia is Australian Athletics.