# 1996 in the sport of athletics

This article contains an overview of the year 1996 in athletics.

## Major events
### World

* Olympic Games
* Summer Paralympics
* World Cross Country Championships
* World Half Marathon Championships
* Grand Prix Final
* World Junior Championships

### Regional

* African Championships
* CARIFTA Games
* Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships
* European Indoor Championships
* European Cross Country Championships
* Ibero-American Championships
* South American Junior Championships
* South American Youth Championships

## World records
### Men

| Event | Athlete | Nation | Performance | Meeting | Place | Date |
| 100 m | Donovan Bailey | Canada | 9.84 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 27 July |
| 200 m | Michael Johnson | United States | 19.66 | US Olympic Trials | Atlanta, United States | 23 June |
| 200 m | Michael Johnson | United States | 19.32 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 1 August |
| 3000 m | Daniel Komen | Kenya | 7:20.67 | Rieti Meeting | Rieti, Italy | 1 September |
| 10,000 m | Salah Hissou | Morocco | 26:38.08 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels, Belgium | 23 August |
| Javelin throw | Jan Železný | Czech Republic | 98.48 m | | Jena, Germany | 1 September |

### Women

| Event | Athlete | Nation | Performance | Meeting | Place | Date |
| 1000 m | Svetlana Masterkova | Russia | 2:28.98 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels, Belgium | 23 August |
| Mile | Svetlana Masterkova | Russia | 4:12.56 | | Zürich, Switzerland | 14 August |
| 3000 m steeplechase | Courtney Meldrum | United States | 10:23.47 | US Olympic Trials | Atlanta, United States | 23 June |
| Pole vault | Emma George | Australia | 4.30 m | | Perth, Australia | 28 January |
| Pole vault | Emma George | Australia | 4.41 m | | Perth, Australia | 28 January |
| Pole vault | Emma George | Australia | 4.42 m | | Reims, France | 29 June |
| Pole vault | Emma George | Australia | 4.45 m | | Sapporo, Japan | 14 July |
| Hammer throw | Olga Kuzenkova | Russia | 68.20 m | | Sydney, Australia | 8 February |
| Hammer throw | Olga Kuzenkova | Russia | 69.46 m | | Sydney, Australia | 17 February |
* note that records for the women's 3000 m steeplechase were not officially recognised until 2000

## Awards
### Men

| 1996 TRACK & FIELD AWARDS | ATHLETE |
| IAAF World Athlete of the Year | Michael Johnson (USA) |
| Track & Field Athlete of the Year | Michael Johnson (USA) |
| European Athlete of the Year Award | Jan Železný (CZE) |
| Best Male Track Athlete ESPY Award | Michael Johnson (USA) |

### Women

| 1996 TRACK & FIELD AWARDS | ATHLETE |
| IAAF World Athlete of the Year | Svetlana Masterkova (RUS) |
| Track & Field Athlete of the Year | Svetlana Masterkova (RUS) |
| European Athlete of the Year Award | Svetlana Masterkova (RUS) |
| Best Female Track Athlete ESPY Award | Kim Batten (USA) |

## Season's bests

Best marks of the year :
| Event | Men | Men | Men | Women | Women | Women |
| Event | Athlete | Mark | Notes | Athlete | Mark | Notes |
| 100 metres | Donovan Bailey (CAN) | 9.84 | WR | Merlene Ottey (JAM) | 10.74 | |
| 200 metres | Michael Johnson (USA) | 19.32 | WR | Marie-José Pérec (FRA) Mary Onyali (NGR) | 22.07 | |
| 400 metres | Michael Johnson (USA) | 43.44 | | Marie-José Pérec (FRA) | 48.25 | |
| 800 metres | Wilson Kipketer (DEN) | 1:41.83 | | Svetlana Masterkova (RUS) | 1:56.04 | |
| 1500 metres | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | 3:29.05 | | Svetlana Masterkova (RUS) | 3:56.77 | |
| 3000 metres | Daniel Komen (KEN) | 7:20.67 | WR | Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) | 8:35.42 | |
| 5000 metres | Daniel Komen (KEN) | 12:45.09 | | Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) | 14:41.07 | |
| 10,000 metres | Salah Hissou (MAR) | 26:38.08 | WR | Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) | 31:01.63 | |
| 100/110 metres hurdles | Allen Johnson (USA) | 12.92 | | Ludmila Engquist (SWE) | 12.47 | |
| 400 metres hurdles | Derrick Adkins (USA) | 47.54 | | Deon Hemmings (JAM) | 52.82 | |
| 3000 metres steeplechase | John Kosgei (KEN) | 8:05.68 | | Courtney Meldrum (USA) | 10:23.47 | WR |
| Pole vault | Sergei Bubka (UKR) | 6.02 m | | Emma George (AUS) | 4.45 m | WR |
| High jump | Charles Austin (USA) | 2.39 m | | Stefka Kostadinova (BUL) | 2.05 m | |
| Long jump | Erick Walder (USA) | 8.58 m | | Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) | 7.20 m | |
| Triple jump | Kenny Harrison (USA) | 18.09 m | | Inessa Kravets (UKR) | 15.33 m | |
| Shot put | Randy Barnes (USA) | 22.40 m | | Astrid Kumbernuss (GER) | 20.97 m | |
| Discus throw | Anthony Washington (USA) | 71.14 m | | Ilke Wyludda (GER) | 69.66 m | |
| Javelin throw | Jan Železný (CZE) | 98.48 m | WR | Steffi Nerius (GER) | 69.42 m | |
| Hammer throw | Lance Deal (USA) | 82.52 m | | Olga Kuzenkova (RUS) | 69.46 m | WR |
| Heptathlon | — | — | — | Ghada Shouaa (SYR) | 6942 pts | |
| Decathlon | Dan O'Brien (USA) | 8824 pts | | — | — | — |
| 4 × 100 metres relay | Canada Robert Esmie Glenroy Gilbert Bruny Surin Donovan Bailey | 37.69 | | United States Chryste Gaines Gail Devers Inger Miller Gwen Torrence | 41.95 | |
| 4 × 400 metres relay | United States LaMont Smith Alvin Harrison Derek Mills Anthuan Maybank | 2:55.99 | | United States Rochelle Stevens Maicel Malone Kim Graham Jearl Miles Clark | 3:20.91 | |