An Olympic record is the best result achieved at the Olympic Games in an event that keeps this kind of record. Athletes get a chance to improve Summer Olympic marks at each Summer Games and Winter Olympic marks at each Winter Games. Some records last for one edition. Others stand for decades.
Why Olympic records are tricky to understand
Olympic records and world records are not the same thing. A world record is the best eligible result recognized under a sport’s rules. An Olympic record is the best eligible result made at the Olympics. So a runner can hold the world record from a different race and still not own the Olympic record.
The most famous example is Usain Bolt. His world record in the 100-meter race is 9.58 seconds, but he ran that in Berlin in 2009, at a different event called the World Championships. His best Olympic time is 9.63 seconds, run at the London Olympics in 2012. Both are amazing. They just happened in different races.
Olympic records also depend on conditions. Mexico City, host of the 1968 Summer Games, sits about 7,350 feet (2,240 m) above sea level. Its lower air density reduced drag for sprinters, while the reduced oxygen pressure challenged endurance runners. Jumpers also produced extraordinary marks there.
Key Olympic record facts
The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Women did not compete at that edition. First-place finishers received silver medals and olive branches rather than gold medals.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals for first, second, and third place were first used at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri.
The marathon is 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) long. That distance was used at the 1908 London Olympics for a course from Windsor Castle to the stadium. It became the official standard in 1921.
Michael Phelps of the United States has won 23 Olympic gold medals in swimming, more than any other athlete in history. He also has 28 medals in total.
Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics, all in swimming. He set a world record in every single race. His 7-gold haul stood as the record for one Games until Phelps won 8 in Beijing in 2008.
Bob Beamon jumped 29 feet 2.5 inches (8.90 m) at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He broke the old long jump record by almost two feet (about 55 cm). The official measuring device on the track could not even handle a jump that long, so officials had to use a steel tape measure.
Nadia Comaneci of Romania received the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics at the 1976 Montreal Games. The scoreboard displayed the score as 1.00 because it was built to show three digits.
Carl Lewis of the United States won the long jump at four Olympic Games in a row, 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996.
The Olympic relay uses safety lanterns to protect flames taken from the original flame at Olympia. A lantern can provide a backup if an open torch goes out.
Common myths about the Olympics
Myth: A gold medal is made of solid gold. Olympic gold medals today are mostly made of silver, with only a thin coating of pure gold on the outside. The last solid gold medals were given out at the 1912 Stockholm Games.
Myth: The marathon is the exact distance of an ancient Greek run. The ancient messenger story is a legend with different versions. The first modern Olympic marathon was about 40 km; the 42.195 km distance was used in London in 1908 and standardized later.
Myth: The fastest 100-meter time ever was run at the Olympics. The fastest official 100-meter time, 9.58 seconds, was run at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009, not at the Olympic Games. The Olympic record is a little slower.
Myth: Olympic athletes always win gold by a big margin. Some finals are close and others are not. In track races, fully automatic timing and photo-finish systems help officials separate athletes who reach the line almost together.
Myth: Each Olympic ring color names a particular continent. The five rings represent the union of five continents and the meeting of athletes from around the world. The Olympic Movement does not assign one continent to each color.
Frequently asked questions about Olympic records
Who has the most Olympic gold medals ever?
Michael Phelps. He won 23 gold medals between 2004 and 2016, all in swimming, and 28 Olympic medals overall.
What is a famous long-standing Olympic record?
Bob Beamon’s 8.90 m long jump from Mexico City in 1968 remains the men’s Olympic record. Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 21.34-second Olympic 200 m mark from 1988 also remains the world record. Her 10.49-second 100 m world record came at the U.S. Olympic Trials, not at the Olympics; Elaine Thompson-Herah holds the Olympic 100 m record at 10.61 seconds.
Why is the marathon exactly 26.2 miles?
London used 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) for its 1908 Olympic course, which started at Windsor Castle and finished in front of the royal box. Later Olympic marathons still varied in length. The international athletics federation standardized 42.195 km in 1921, and the Olympics have used it since 1924.
Who is the oldest person to win an Olympic medal?
A Swedish shooter named Oscar Swahn won a silver medal at age 72 at the 1920 Antwerp Games. He had already won gold at earlier Olympics. He is still the oldest Olympic medal winner ever.
Why are some Olympic records broken so often?
Training, technique, equipment, rules, weather, altitude, and the athletes at a particular Games can all affect a record. Each event has a different history, so no single reason explains why some marks fall quickly and others last.
What is the shortest Olympic track race?
The outdoor Olympic track program’s shortest running event is the 100-meter sprint. Usain Bolt of Jamaica holds the men’s Olympic record at 9.63 seconds, set in London in 2012.
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An Olympic record is the best eligible mark achieved at the Olympic Games in an event that recognizes records. It is separate from the world record, which can be set at other eligible competitions under the sport’s rules. The two often differ. An athlete can hold one without holding the other.
Why Olympic records are tricky to understand
Olympic and world marks often differ because world-record opportunities occur at many eligible competitions, while an Olympic mark can change only during a Games. Even so, an Olympic record is not automatically slower. Venue, weather, schedule, competition, and an athlete’s form all matter.
Usain Bolt is the most famous example. His 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds was run at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. His Olympic record of 9.63 seconds was set at London in 2012. Both are his own marks. The Berlin time is the all-time world standard, but the London time is the Olympic standard.
The second surprise is that conditions matter. The 1968 Mexico City Games were held at about 7,350 feet (2,240 m) above sea level. Lower air density reduced aerodynamic drag for sprinters, while lower oxygen pressure impaired endurance performance. Jumping marks were also exceptional. Different events respond to altitude in different ways.
Key facts about Olympic records
The first modern Olympics took place in Athens in 1896. First-place finishers received silver medals and olive branches. The now-familiar awards of gold, silver, and bronze for the top three places appeared at St. Louis in 1904.
The marathon is 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) long. London used that distance at the 1908 Games for a course beginning at Windsor Castle and ending at the stadium’s royal box. The international athletics federation standardized it in 1921, and Olympic marathons have used it since 1924.
The Olympic relay carries protected flames in safety lanterns. The Paris 2024 relay guide explains that the lanterns preserved flames taken from the original flame at Olympia and provided a backup if a torch went out.
The five Olympic rings represent the union of five continents and the meeting of athletes from around the world. The colors are not assigned one by one to particular continents.
Bob Beamon’s long jump of 29 feet 2.5 inches (8.90 m) at the 1968 Mexico City Games broke the existing world record by almost two feet (about 55 cm). The optical measuring device installed at the track could not handle a jump that long. Officials had to switch to a steel tape measure. The mark stood as the world record for almost 23 years.
Carl Lewis won the long jump at four straight Olympics, 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996, a 12-year run in the same event. Al Oerter had done the same in the discus throw, winning at 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968.
Nadia Comaneci scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics at the 1976 Montreal Games, on the uneven bars. The scoreboard had been programmed only for scores up to 9.99, so her 10.0 appeared on the board as 1.00. She went on to score a total of seven perfect 10s at those Games.
Florence Griffith-Joyner’s women’s records of 10.49 seconds (100 m) and 21.34 seconds (200 m) were set in 1988. The 200 m mark, set in the Seoul Olympic final, still stands as both the Olympic and world record. The 100 m mark of 10.49 was run at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, so it is the world record but never an Olympic record. The Olympic record at 100 m has since fallen to Elaine Thompson-Herah at Tokyo 2021 (10.61).
Mark Spitz won seven gold medals at Munich 1972, setting a world record in every event. The single-Games gold record stood until Michael Phelps won eight at Beijing 2008. Phelps now has 23 career gold medals and 28 medals overall, both Olympic records.
Common myths about Olympic records
Myth: A gold medal is made of solid gold. The last solid gold medals were given out at the 1912 Stockholm Games. Modern golds are mostly silver with a coating of pure gold of at least 6 grams.
Myth: The marathon distance is an exact ancient route. The messenger story is legendary, and early Olympic marathons varied. London used 42.195 km in 1908; the international federation adopted that length in 1921.
Myth: The fastest 100-meter time ever was run at the Olympics. Usain Bolt’s all-time fastest 100-meter race, 9.58 seconds, was at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. His Olympic best is 9.63 seconds at London 2012.
Myth: Olympic and world records are the same. They are kept in separate lists. Olympic records can only be set at the Olympic Games. World records can be set at other eligible competitions that meet federation rules. An athlete can hold one without the other.
Myth: The ‘World’s Greatest Athlete’ title is an official Olympic award. The label is traditionally associated with the decathlon champion and with a reported exchange between Sweden’s King Gustav V and Jim Thorpe in 1912. It is not an official medal or event title.
Myth: Pool dimensions do not matter. World Aquatics requires a long-course pool to measure 50.000 m between installed touch panels, with a tolerance of +0.010 m and -0.000 m. Its current Olympic certification form also checks width and depth.
Frequently asked questions about Olympic records
Why is the marathon exactly 26 miles 385 yards?
At the 1908 London Olympics, the course began at Windsor Castle and finished in front of the royal box at the stadium. Its length was 26 miles 385 yards. Other Olympic distances followed before 42.195 km became the international standard in 1921 and the Olympic standard from 1924.
Why did so many records fall at the 1968 Mexico City Games?
Mexico City sits about 7,350 feet (2,240 m) above sea level. Research on Olympic 100 m results found a measurable sprint advantage there after accounting for wind and historical trends. Lower air density reduces drag, while reduced oxygen pressure makes sustained aerobic effort harder.
Which Olympic records have lasted the longest?
Florence Griffith-Joyner’s women’s 200-meter mark of 21.34 seconds from the 1988 Seoul Games stands as both the Olympic and world record. Her 10.49 seconds in the 100 meters from the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials is the world record but is not an Olympic record. Bob Beamon’s long jump of 8.90 m from 1968 still stands as the Olympic record after more than 55 years; it held the world record for nearly 23 years until Mike Powell broke it in 1991.
Why does the Olympic torch sometimes get put out?
Torch relays cross long routes and face changing weather. Organizers preserve flames taken from the Olympia flame in protected lanterns. A lantern can be used to relight a torch if its open flame goes out.
Who has the most Olympic medals ever?
Michael Phelps of the United States holds the record with 28 medals (23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) across the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Games. The previous record holder was Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina with 18 medals (9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze) from 1956, 1960, and 1964. Phelps passed her at the 2012 London Games.
Why are records in technical events broken less often than in running?
There is no general rule that technical-event records last longer. Equipment regulations can disrupt comparisons in some events, while improved technique or an exceptional athlete can move a record in any discipline. The history must be examined event by event.
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An Olympic record is the best mark achieved at the Olympic Games in an event that recognizes comparable records. A world record is the best eligible mark in a much wider set of competitions. Official results and governing-federation record lists provide the controlling numbers; the rules differ by sport and event.
What is often misunderstood about Olympic records
Olympic and world marks are separate where a sport maintains both. Usain Bolt’s 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds came at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. His Olympic record is 9.63 seconds from London 2012. The first mark is faster, but only the second was made at the Games.
The Olympic awards themselves changed. At Athens 1896, first place received a silver medal and olive branch, while second received a copper medal and laurel branch. The gold-silver-bronze pattern for the top three appeared at St. Louis 1904. Current Olympic specifications require a gold medal to contain at least 92.5 percent silver and at least 6 grams of pure gold coating.
Venue conditions can influence results. The 1968 Mexico City Games took place about 2,240 m above sea level. A study of Olympic 100 m data estimated a substantial sprint advantage at that altitude after correcting for wind and historical trends. Lower oxygen pressure works against sustained aerobic performance. Bob Beamon’s 8.90 m long jump there improved the world record by 55 cm and remains the Olympic record.
Key facts about Olympic records
Florence Griffith-Joyner’s two records have different labels. Her 10.49 seconds in the 100 m came at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, so it is a world record but not an Olympic record. Her 21.34 seconds in the Seoul Olympic 200 m final is both. Elaine Thompson-Herah set the current Olympic 100 m record of 10.61 seconds at Tokyo 2020, held in 2021, and her 10.54 from later that year is 0.05 seconds behind the world record.
Most Olympic medals overall.Michael Phelps holds 28 medals (23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) across 2004 to 2016. The previous record was Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina’s 18 medals (9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze) from 1956 to 1964. Phelps surpassed her at the 2012 London Games.
Most golds at a single Olympics. Phelps won 8 gold medals at Beijing 2008, breaking Mark Spitz’s 7 from Munich 1972. Spitz’s 7 had stood for 36 years, and Spitz set a world record in every one of his Munich events.
Marathon distance and records. London used 42.195 km at the 1908 Games; the international federation standardized that distance in 1921. As of August 2026, World Athletics recognizes Sabastian Sawe’s 1:59:30 from London on April 26, 2026, as the men’s world record. Tamirat Tola’s 2:06:26 from Paris 2024 is the men’s Olympic record.
Bob Beamon’s long jump. 8.90 m (29 ft 2.5 in) at Mexico City 1968. Olympic record for over 50 years and world record for nearly 23, until Mike Powell’s 8.95 m at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo.
Multi-Games dominance in a field event.Carl Lewis won the long jump at Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, and Atlanta 1996. Al Oerter won the discus throw at 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968. Both performed the rare feat of four straight golds in the same individual event.
Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10. Awarded on the uneven bars at the 1976 Montreal Games. The Omega scoreboard was programmed only for scores up to 9.99 and displayed her 10.00 as 1.00. She finished those Games with seven perfect 10s.
Pool dimensions. World Aquatics specifies 50.000 m between installed touch panels for a long-course pool, with a tolerance of +0.010 m and -0.000 m. Its Olympic certification form also checks pool width and a minimum depth of 2.5 m for a dedicated Olympic or world-championship 50 m pool.
Oldest Olympic medalist. Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn won silver in the 100-meter running deer team event at the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72. He had previously won gold at the 1908 and 1912 Games.
Olympic flame and safety lanterns. The flame is lit at Olympia and carried toward the host. Relay lanterns preserve flames taken from the original and provide a backup if an open torch goes out.
Common myths about Olympic records
Myth: Olympic gold medals are made of solid gold. The last solid gold medals were awarded at the 1912 Stockholm Games. Modern golds are mostly silver, with a coating of at least 6 grams of pure gold.
Myth: The marathon distance is an exact ancient route. The messenger story is legendary, and early Olympic marathon distances varied. The 1908 London course supplied the 42.195 km distance that was standardized in 1921.
Myth: The fastest 100-meter race in history was an Olympic final. It was not. Usain Bolt’s 9.58 seconds was at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. The Olympic record is his 9.63 from London 2012. World and Olympic record books are kept separately.
Myth: The Olympic flame must be rekindled from scratch when a torch goes out. It does not. Protected flames travel in safety lanterns and can relight an extinguished torch.
Myth: Each Olympic ring color stands for a specific continent. The Olympic Charter says the symbol represents the union of five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world. It does not map one color to one continent.
Myth: ‘World’s Greatest Athlete’ is an official title for the decathlon winner. The phrase is traditional and is linked to a reported exchange between King Gustav V and Jim Thorpe in 1912, but it is not the official name of the medal or event.
Myth: Olympic records always improve at the next Games. They do not. Beamon’s 1968 long jump and Griffith-Joyner’s 1988 Olympic 200 m mark still stand. A record changes only when an eligible performance beats it.
Frequently asked questions about Olympic records
Why is the Olympic record usually slower than the world record?
Athletes have many more eligible opportunities to set world records than Olympic records. That alone makes a difference likely, but not inevitable. Some Olympic finals also produce world records, and the relationship varies by event.
Which track and field Olympic records have lasted for decades?
Bob Beamon’s men’s long jump record dates to 1968. Florence Griffith-Joyner’s Olympic women’s 200 m record dates to 1988. Her 10.49-second 100 m mark from the same year is a world record from the U.S. Olympic Trials, not an Olympic record.
Why did so many records fall at Mexico City 1968?
The Games were held about 2,240 m above sea level. Lower air density reduced aerodynamic drag, and research estimates that the venue materially helped 100 m sprint times. Lower oxygen pressure made endurance events more difficult. Altitude was important, but it was not the only factor behind every result.
Why does the marathon have such an awkward distance?
The 1908 London course started at Windsor Castle and finished in front of the royal box, producing a distance of 26 miles 385 yards. Later Olympic marathons still varied before the international federation standardized 42.195 km in 1921. The Olympics have used that standard since 1924.
What happens when an athletics result is disqualified?
The applicable governing rules determine the consequences. A disqualified performance cannot remain the recognized record. Medal and placing reallocations are separate processes, so it is unsafe to assume that every later athlete automatically receives a record or medal without an official decision.
Why can swimmers collect several medals at one Games?
Olympic swimming has multiple strokes, distances, individual medleys, and relays. A versatile swimmer may qualify for several events, but schedules, team selection, and physical demands limit what is practical. Phelps combined a broad event program with success across four Games from 2004 through 2016.
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An Olympic record (OR) is the best eligible result achieved at the Olympic Games in an event that maintains comparable marks. A world record (WR) is maintained under the relevant international federation’s rules across a wider set of eligible competitions. There is no single joint IOC ratification procedure covering every sport. The official Games results and each sport’s federation rules determine how a mark is labeled and recognized.
Why Olympic records are non-intuitive
Three features make Olympic record comparisons more complicated than a list of numbers suggests.
The first is opportunity. An Olympic mark can change only at the Games, whereas athletes may have many federation-eligible opportunities to set a world record between Games. Usain Bolt’s 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds came at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin; his Olympic record is 9.63 seconds from London 2012. Olympic marks are not necessarily slower, but the two lists often diverge.
The second is environment. Mexico City hosted the 1968 Games at about 2,240 m above sea level. A peer-reviewed analysis of Olympic 100 m results estimated that the altitude improved men’s times by 0.19 seconds and women’s times by 0.21 seconds after corrections for wind and historical trends. Lower oxygen pressure, however, works against sustained aerobic performance. Bob Beamon’s 8.90 m long jump improved the world record by 55 cm and remains the Olympic record.
The third is rule and equipment turnover. World Aquatics ended the full-body non-textile suit era on January 1, 2010, without erasing marks legally set under the prior rules. World Athletics adopted major competition-shoe limits in 2020 and has revised them since. The men’s javelin specification changed in 1986 by moving the center of gravity forward, after Uwe Hohn’s 104.80 m throw helped expose the practical limits of existing stadium space. Comparisons across such rule boundaries need context.
Key facts
Recognition is sport-specific. World Athletics and World Aquatics publish their own technical and record rules. In athletics, the +2.0 m/s wind limit applies to record eligibility in events such as the 100 m, 200 m, sprint hurdles, long jump, and triple jump, not to every track and field event. Timing, venue, competition, and anti-doping requirements also depend on the applicable rules.
Current marathon comparison. World Athletics ratified Sabastian Sawe’s 1:59:30 from the London Marathon on April 26, 2026, as the men’s world record on July 23, 2026. Tamirat Tola’s 2:06:26 at Paris 2024 remains the men’s Olympic record. Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:59:40.2 exhibition run in Vienna in 2019 was a historic sub-two-hour performance but was not a record-eligible competition.
First modern Olympics and medal evolution. Athens 1896 awarded silver and an olive branch for first place, and copper and a laurel branch for second; no gold medal existed. The gold-silver-bronze podium debuted at St. Louis 1904. Solid gold medals ended after Stockholm 1912. The IOC requires modern golds to be at least 92.5% silver with a minimum 6 g pure-gold coating.
Florence Griffith-Joyner’s labels. Her 10.49 seconds in the 100 m at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials is the world record, not an Olympic record. Her 21.34 seconds in the Seoul Olympic 200 m final is both. Elaine Thompson-Herah’s 10.61 at the Tokyo Games is the Olympic 100 m record; her later 10.54 is the closest performance to the world record, 0.05 seconds away.
Most Olympic medals overall. Michael Phelps holds 28 (23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) across 2004 to 2016. He surpassed Larisa Latynina’s 18 medals (9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, from 1956 to 1964) at London 2012. Phelps’s 8 golds at Beijing 2008 broke Mark Spitz’s 7 from Munich 1972; Spitz had set a world record in every one of his Munich events.
Streaks in field events. Al Oerter won the discus at four consecutive Games from 1956 through 1968. Carl Lewis did the same in long jump from 1984 through 1996.
Marathon distance origin. London used 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) at the 1908 Games for a course starting at Windsor Castle and finishing in front of the royal box. Olympic marathon distances still varied afterward. The international federation standardized 42.195 km in 1921, and the Olympic race has used it since 1924.
Pool standards. World Aquatics specifies 50.000 m between installed touch panels for long-course pools, with a tolerance of +0.010 m and -0.000 m. Its current certification form requires a minimum 2.5 m depth for a dedicated Olympic or world-championship 50 m pool.
Suit-era swimming records. Rome’s 2009 World Championships produced 43 world records before the non-textile suit ban took effect in 2010. Paul Biedermann’s 1:42.00 in the men’s 200 m freestyle from Rome still leads the World Aquatics long-course all-time list in 2026. Other suit-era records have fallen: Cameron McEvoy’s 20.88 in March 2026 replaced César Cielo’s 20.91 from 2009 as the men’s 50 m freestyle world record.
Oldest Olympic medalist. Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, silver in 100-meter running deer team at Antwerp 1920, age 72. He had won gold at London 1908 and Stockholm 1912. The corresponding oldest gold medalist is also Swahn (Stockholm 1912, age 64).
Olympic flame protocol. A relay’s protected lanterns preserve flames taken from the Olympia flame and provide a backup if an open torch goes out. Continuity refers to the Olympia flame carried in this protected system, not to one exposed torch staying lit throughout the route.
Five rings. The Olympic Charter says the symbol represents the union of five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world. It does not assign one continent to each ring color.
Common misconceptions at expert level
Misconception: The Olympic record book is a subset of the world record book. It is not. Olympic records are set only at the Games. World records can be set at eligible competitions that meet federation rules. The two lists share many entries but diverge when a world record is set outside the Olympics.
Misconception: Altitude made the Mexico City marks invalid. It did not. Altitude affects performance differently across events, but Beamon’s 8.90 m remains the recognized Olympic long jump record. Environmental context and legal validity are different questions.
Misconception: The polyurethane suit ban invalidated 2008 to 2009 swimming records. It did not. FINA banned the suits prospectively, effective January 2010. Records set under legal-at-the-time equipment remain in the book. Several have proven extraordinarily durable; the men’s 200 m freestyle world record of 1:42.00 by Paul Biedermann from Rome 2009 stood untouched at the Olympics for over a decade.
Misconception: The marathon distance is an exact ancient route. It is not. The messenger story is legendary, early Olympic marathons varied, and the current distance descends from the 1908 London course and the 1921 standard.
Misconception: ‘World’s Greatest Athlete’ is an IOC designation. It is not. The phrase is associated with King Gustav V of Sweden’s reported greeting of Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Stockholm Games after Thorpe won both pentathlon and decathlon. Its later use for decathlon champions is informal.
Misconception: One exposed Olympic torch must stay alight for the entire relay. Protected flames travel in safety lanterns, and those lanterns can relight an extinguished torch.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Olympic record almost always trail the world record?
The Olympic schedule supplies far fewer opportunities. World records may be attempted at many eligible competitions under federation rules, while an Olympic record can change only during a Games. Conditions and athlete form can make either mark faster in an individual event, so “almost always” is too strong as a universal rule.
How did the polyurethane suit era reshape swimming records?
The 2008 to 2009 suit period produced rapid record turnover, including 43 world records at the 2009 World Championships. The rules changed prospectively in 2010. Biedermann’s 1:42.00 in the men’s long-course 200 m freestyle remains, while later swimmers have broken other suit-era marks. McEvoy’s 20.88 in 2026 replacing Cielo’s 20.91 is a current example.
Why has Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 100 m record stood so long?
The record remains because no eligible performance has beaten 10.49 seconds. Elaine Thompson-Herah ran 10.54 in 2021, 0.05 seconds away. Historical debate does not alter the official list unless the governing process changes the result; World Athletics continues to recognize Griffith-Joyner as the record holder.
What rule changes have most reshaped event distances?
The men’s javelin redesign is a clear example. Its center of gravity moved forward in 1986, shortening flights and helping the point land first for measurement. The women’s specification changed in 1999. World Athletics therefore treats modern-specification performances separately from earlier marks such as Hohn’s 104.80 m.
What happens to a record after disqualification?
A disqualified performance cannot remain the recognized record. The governing federation applies its record rules, while the IOC and other bodies handle official results and medal reallocations under their own procedures. The next valid record mark or medal recipient must be confirmed officially; it should not be inferred automatically from an old results table.
What is the longest-standing Olympic record in any sport?
There is no stable all-sports answer because events, specifications, and programs change. In track and field, Beamon’s 8.90 m from Mexico City 1968 remains one of the clearest long-standing examples. Powell surpassed it as a world record with 8.95 m in 1991, but that performance was not at an Olympics and did not replace the Olympic mark.
