# Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics

The athletics competitions at the 2012 Olympic Games in London were held during the last 10 days of the Games, on 3–12 August. Track and field events took place at the Olympic Stadium in east London. The road events, however, started and finished on The Mall in central London.
Over 2,000 athletes from 201 nations competed in 47 events in total, with both men and women having a very similar schedule of events. Men competed in 24 events and women in 23, of which 21 were the same for both. The women's schedule lacked the 50 km race walk and included 100 m hurdles and heptathlon as opposed to the men's 110 m hurdles and decathlon. The youngest participant in the athletics competition was Andorran 15-year-old Cristina Llovera while the oldest was 46-year-old Ukrainian Oleksandr Dryhol. South African Oscar Pistorius became the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics.

## Competition schedule

The venue for the track and field events was the Olympic Stadium while the walks and the marathons started and finished on The Mall. In the tables below, M stands for morning and A for afternoon.
Men :
| Date → | 3 Aug | 3 Aug | 4 Aug | 4 Aug | 4 Aug | 5 Aug | 5 Aug | 5 Aug | 6 Aug | 6 Aug | 7 Aug | 7 Aug | 8 Aug | 8 Aug | 8 Aug | 9 Aug | 9 Aug | 10 Aug | 10 Aug | 11 Aug | 11 Aug | 12 Aug | 12 Aug |
| Event ↓ | M | A | M | M | A | M | A | A | M | A | M | A | M | A | A | M | A | M | A | M | A | M | A |
| 100 m | | | Q | H | | | 1⁄2 | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 200 m | | | | | | | | | | | H | | | 1⁄2 | 1⁄2 | | F | | | | | | |
| 400 m | | | H | | | | 1⁄2 | 1⁄2 | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 800 m | | | | | | | | | H | | | 1⁄2 | | | | | F | | | | | | |
| 1500 m | | H | | | | | 1⁄2 | 1⁄2 | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5000 m | | | | | | | | | | | | | H | | | | | | | | F | | |
| 10,000 m | | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 110 m hurdles | | | | | | | | | | | H | | | 1⁄2 | F | | | | | | | | |
| 400 m hurdles | H | | | | 1⁄2 | | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3000 m steeplechase | H | | | | | | F | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 × 100 m relay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | H | | F | | |
| 4 × 400 m relay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | H | | | F | | | | |
| Marathon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | F | |
| 20 km walk | | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 50 km walk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | F | | | |
| Long jump | | Q | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Triple jump | | | | | | | | | | | Q | | | | | | F | | | | | | |
| High jump | | | | | | | Q | Q | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pole vault | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Q | Q | | | | F | | | | |
| Shot put | Q | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Discus throw | | | | | | | | | Q | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Javelin throw | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Q | Q | | | | | | F | | |
| Hammer throw | Q | | | | | | F | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Decathlon | | | | | | | | | | | | | F | F | F | F | F | | | | | | |
Women :
| Date → | 3 Aug | 3 Aug | 4 Aug | 4 Aug | 4 Aug | 5 Aug | 5 Aug | 6 Aug | 6 Aug | 7 Aug | 7 Aug | 7 Aug | 8 Aug | 8 Aug | 9 Aug | 9 Aug | 10 Aug | 10 Aug | 11 Aug | 11 Aug | 12 Aug | 12 Aug |
| Event ↓ | M | A | M | A | A | M | A | M | A | M | A | A | M | A | M | A | M | A | M | A | M | A |
| 100 m | | H | | 1⁄2 | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 200 m | | | | | | | | | H | | 1⁄2 | 1⁄2 | | F | | | | | | | | |
| 400 m | H | | | 1⁄2 | 1⁄2 | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 800 m | | | | | | | | | | | | | H | | | 1⁄2 | | | | F | | |
| 1500 m | | | | | | | | H | | | | | | 1⁄2 | | | | F | | | | |
| 5000 m | | | | | | | | | | H | | | | | | | | F | | | | |
| 10,000 m | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 100 m hurdles | | | | | | | | H | | | 1⁄2 | F | | | | | | | | | | |
| 400 m hurdles | | | | | | | H | | 1⁄2 | | | | | F | | | | | | | | |
| 3000 m steeplechase | | | H | | | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 × 100 m relay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | H | | F | | | | |
| 4 × 400 m relay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | H | | F | | |
| Marathon | | | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 km walk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | F | | |
| Long jump | | | | | | | | | | | Q | Q | | F | | | | | | | | |
| Triple jump | Q | | | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| High jump | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Q | | | | | F | | |
| Pole vault | | | | Q | Q | | | | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shot put | | | | | | | | Q | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Discus throw | | Q | | F | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Javelin throw | | | | | | | | | | Q | | | | | | F | | | | | | |
| Hammer throw | | | | | | | | | | | | | Q | | | | | F | | | | |
| Heptathlon | F | F | F | F | F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Medal summary

(WR = World Record, OR = Olympic Record)

### Medal table

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 11 | 10 | 8 | 29 |
| 2 | Jamaica | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 |
| 3 | Great Britain | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Ethiopia | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | Kenya | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| 6 | China | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 7 | Australia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Poland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Germany | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| 10 | Russia | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 12 | Czech Republic | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | France | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Dominican Republic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Algeria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Bahamas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Bahrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Croatia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Grenada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Hungary | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Kazakhstan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Uganda | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | Cuba | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 27 | Botswana | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Canada | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Colombia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Finland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Guatemala | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Iran | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Qatar | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Slovenia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 35 | Ukraine | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 36 | Estonia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Ireland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Italy | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Japan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Lithuania | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Morocco | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Spain | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (43 entries) | Totals (43 entries) | 47 | 49 | 46 | 142 |
Note: Three competitors tied for silver in the men's high jump event.

### Men

| Event | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| 100 metres details | Usain Bolt Jamaica | 9.63 (OR) | Yohan Blake Jamaica | 9.75 | Justin Gatlin United States | 9.79 |
| 200 metres details | Usain Bolt Jamaica | 19.32 | Yohan Blake Jamaica | 19.44 | Warren Weir Jamaica | 19.84 |
| 400 metres details | Kirani James Grenada | 43.94 | Luguelín Santos Dominican Republic | 44.46 | Lalonde Gordon Trinidad and Tobago | 44.52 |
| 800 metres details | David Rudisha Kenya | 1:40.91 (WR) | Nijel Amos Botswana | 1:41.73 | Timothy Kitum Kenya | 1:42.53 |
| 1500 metres details | Taoufik Makhloufi Algeria | 3:34.08 | Leonel Manzano United States | 3:34.79 | Abdalaati Iguider Morocco | 3:35.13 |
| 5000 metres details | Mo Farah Great Britain | 13:41.66 | Dejen Gebremeskel Ethiopia | 13:41.98 | Thomas Longosiwa Kenya | 13:42.36 |
| 10,000 metres details | Mo Farah Great Britain | 27:30.42 | Galen Rupp United States | 27:30.90 | Tariku Bekele Ethiopia | 27:31.43 |
| 110 metres hurdles details | Aries Merritt United States | 12.92 | Jason Richardson United States | 13.04 | Hansle Parchment Jamaica | 13.12 |
| 400 metres hurdles details | Félix Sánchez Dominican Republic | 47.63 | Michael Tinsley United States | 47.91 | Javier Culson Puerto Rico | 48.10 |
| 3000 metres steeplechase details | Ezekiel Kemboi Kenya | 8:18.56 | Mahiedine Benabbad France | 8:19.08 | Abel Mutai Kenya | 8:19.73 |
| 4 × 100 metres relay details | Jamaica (JAM) Nesta Carter Michael Frater Yohan Blake Usain Bolt Kemar Bailey-Cole* | 36.84 (WR) | Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) Keston Bledman Marc Burns Emmanuel Callender Richard Thompson | 38.12 | France (FRA) Jimmy Vicaut Christophe Lemaitre Pierre-Alexis Pessonneaux Ronald Pognon | 38.16 |
| 4 × 400 metres relay details | Bahamas (BAH) Chris Brown Demetrius Pinder Michael Mathieu Ramon Miller | 2:56.72 | United States (USA) Bryshon Nellum Joshua Mance Tony McQuay Angelo Taylor Manteo Mitchell* | 2:57.05 | Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) Lalonde Gordon Jarrin Solomon Ade Alleyne-Forte Deon Lendore | 2:59.40 |
| Marathon details | Stephen Kiprotich Uganda | 2:08:01 | Abel Kirui Kenya | 2:08:27 | Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich Kenya | 2:09:37 |
| 20 kilometres walk details | Chen Ding China | 1:18:46 (OR) | Érick Barrondo Guatemala | 1:18:57 | Wang Zhen China | 1:19:25 |
| 50 kilometres walk details | Jared Tallent Australia | 3:36:53 (OR) | Si Tianfeng China | 3:37:16 | Robert Heffernan Ireland | 3:37:54 |
| High jump details | Erik Kynard United States | 2.33 | Mutaz Essa Barshim Qatar Derek Drouin Canada Robert Grabarz Great Britain | 2.29 | not awarded (tie for silver) | not awarded (tie for silver) |
| Pole vault details | Renaud Lavillenie France | 5.97 (OR) | Björn Otto Germany | 5.91 | Raphael Holzdeppe Germany | 5.91 |
| Long jump details | Greg Rutherford Great Britain | 8.31 | Mitchell Watt Australia | 8.16 | Will Claye United States | 8.12 |
| Triple jump details | Christian Taylor United States | 17.81 | Will Claye United States | 17.62 | Fabrizio Donato Italy | 17.48 |
| Shot put details | Tomasz Majewski Poland | 21.89 | David Storl Germany | 21.86 | Reese Hoffa United States | 21.23 |
| Discus throw details | Robert Harting Germany | 68.27 | Ehsan Haddadi Iran | 68.18 | Gerd Kanter Estonia | 68.03 |
| Hammer throw details | Krisztián Pars Hungary | 80.59 | Primož Kozmus Slovenia | 79.36 | Koji Murofushi Japan | 78.71 |
| Javelin throw details | Keshorn Walcott Trinidad and Tobago | 84.58 | Antti Ruuskanen Finland | 84.12 | Vítězslav Veselý Czech Republic | 83.34 |
| Decathlon details | Ashton Eaton United States | 8869 | Trey Hardee United States | 8671 | Leonel Suárez Cuba | 8523 |
    *Indicates the athlete only competed in the preliminary heats.
* $^{4×100metresrelay}$ Tyson Gay was stripped of his silver medal due to a doping violation. The United States team was disqualified.
* $^{50kilometreswalk}$ On 24 March 2016, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has issued decision that all competitive results obtained by Sergey Kirdyapkin of Russia from 20 August 2009 to 15 October 2012 are disqualified for doping use. Redistribution of the medals in this event occurred on 17 June 2016, with Tallent awarded the gold medal by the IOC at a ceremony in Melbourne, Australia, with Si claiming silver and Heffernan bronze.
* $^{highjump}$ Gold medalist Ivan Ukhov of Russia was disqualified for doping in 2019. Medals were reallocated in 2021.
* $^{javelinthrow}$ Original silver medalist Oleksandr Pyatnytsya of Ukraine was stripped of his silver medal and result following a positive finding in a retest of his 2012 anti-doping sample. On 24 February 2017 Antti Ruuskanen received the silver medal in Finland. On 28 June 2017 Vítězslav Veselý received the bronze medal in Czech Republic.

### Women

| Event | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| 100 metres details | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Jamaica | 10.75 | Carmelita Jeter United States | 10.78 | Veronica Campbell-Brown Jamaica | 10.81 |
| 200 metres details | Allyson Felix United States | 21.88 | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Jamaica | 22.09 | Carmelita Jeter United States | 22.14 |
| 400 metres details | Sanya Richards-Ross United States | 49.55 | Christine Ohuruogu Great Britain | 49.70 | DeeDee Trotter United States | 49.72 |
| 800 metres details | Caster Semenya South Africa | 1:57.23 | Ekaterina Poistogova Russia | 1:57.53 | Pamela Jelimo Kenya | 1:57.59 |
| 1500 metres details | Maryam Yusuf Jamal Bahrain | 4:10.74 | Abeba Aregawi Ethiopia | 4:11.03 | Shannon Rowbury United States | 4:11.26 |
| 5000 metres details | Meseret Defar Ethiopia | 15:04.25 | Vivian Cheruiyot Kenya | 15:04.73 | Tirunesh Dibaba Ethiopia | 15:05.15 |
| 10,000 metres details | Tirunesh Dibaba Ethiopia | 30:20.75 | Sally Kipyego Kenya | 30:26.37 | Vivian Cheruiyot Kenya | 30:30.44 |
| 100 metres hurdles details | Sally Pearson Australia | 12.35 (OR) | Dawn Harper United States | 12.37 | Kellie Wells United States | 12.48 |
| 400 metres hurdles details | Lashinda Demus United States | 52.77 | Zuzana Hejnová Czech Republic | 53.38 | Kaliese Spencer Jamaica | 53.66 |
| 3000 metres steeplechase details | Habiba Ghribi Tunisia | 9:08.37 | Sofia Assefa Ethiopia | 9:09.84 | Milcah Chemos Cheywa Kenya | 9:09.88 |
| 4 × 100 m relay details | United States (USA) Tianna Madison Allyson Felix Bianca Knight Carmelita Jeter Jeneba Tarmoh* Lauryn Williams* | 40.82 (WR) | Jamaica (JAM) Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Sherone Simpson Veronica Campbell-Brown Kerron Stewart Samantha Henry-Robinson* Schillonie Calvert* | 41.41 | Ukraine (UKR) Olesya Povh Hrystyna Stuy Mariya Ryemyen Elyzaveta Bryzgina | 42.04 |
| 4 × 400 m relay details | United States (USA) DeeDee Trotter Allyson Felix Francena McCorory Sanya Richards-Ross Keshia Baker* Diamond Dixon* | 3:16.87 | Jamaica (JAM) Christine Day Rosemarie Whyte Shericka Williams Novlene Williams-Mills Shereefa Lloyd* | 3:20.95 | Ukraine (UKR) Alina Lohvynenko Olha Zemlyak Hanna Yaroshchuk Nataliya Pyhyda | 3:23.57 |
| Marathon details | Tiki Gelana Ethiopia | 2:23:07 (OR) | Priscah Jeptoo Kenya | 2:23:12 | Tatyana Arkhipova Russia | 2:23:29 |
| 20 kilometres walk details | Qieyang Shenjie China | 1:25:16 (OR) | Liu Hong China | 1:26:00 | Lü Xiuzhi China | 1:27:10 |
| High jump details | Anna Chicherova Russia | 2.05 | Brigetta Barrett United States | 2.03 | Ruth Beitia Spain | 2.00 |
| Pole vault details | Jenn Suhr United States | 4.75 | Yarisley Silva Cuba | 4.75 | Yelena Isinbayeva Russia | 4.70 |
| Long jump details | Brittney Reese United States | 7.12 | Yelena Sokolova Russia | 7.07 | Janay DeLoach United States | 6.89 |
| Triple jump details | Olga Rypakova Kazakhstan | 14.98 | Caterine Ibargüen Colombia | 14.80 | Olha Saladukha Ukraine | 14.79 |
| Shot put details | Valerie Adams New Zealand | 20.70 | Gong Lijiao China | 20.22 | Li Ling China | 19.63 |
| Discus throw details | Sandra Perković Croatia | 69.11 | Li Yanfeng China | 67.22 | Yarelys Barrios Cuba | 66.38 |
| Hammer throw details | Anita Włodarczyk Poland | 77.60 | Betty Heidler Germany | 77.13 | Zhang Wenxiu China | 76.34 |
| Javelin throw details | Barbora Špotáková Czech Republic | 69.55 | Christina Obergföll Germany | 65.16 | Linda Stahl Germany | 64.91 |
| Heptathlon details | Jessica Ennis Great Britain | 6955 | Lilli Schwarzkopf Germany | 6649 | Austra Skujytė Lithuania | 6599 |
    *Indicates the athlete only competed in the preliminary heats.
* $^{800metres}$ On 10 February 2017, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a four-year ban that effectively stripped of the gold medal of Mariya Savinova of Russia, based upon irregularities in her biological passport and doping. Caster Semenya of South Africa was advanced to gold, Ekaterina Poistogova of Russia to silver, and Pamela Jelimo of Kenya to bronze. In April 2024, Guliyev was banned by the Russian Athletics Federation for infractions in 2012 and 2013, voiding her results including the 2012 Olympic final. The official decision to revoke medals rests with the International Olympic Committee. It is likely Guliyev's medal will be revoked, upgrading Pamela Jelimo to the silver and Alysia Montano to the bronze.
* $^{1500metres}$ On 17 August 2015, the Court of Arbitration for Sport says it approved a settlement agreed to by Turkish athlete Aslı Çakır Alptekin and the IAAF. Alptekin has agreed to forfeit her 1500 metres Olympic title and serve an eight-year ban for blood doping. On 29 March 2017, Turkish athlete Gamze Bulut was banned for doping and lost her Olympic silver medal. Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain was advanced to gold, the silver medal was awarded to Tatyana Tomashova of Russia, and the bronze medal was awarded to Abeba Aregawi of Ethiopia. Tomashova was earlier found guilty of doping and missed the 2008 Olympics because of that, and was banned after the Olympics for failing another drug test. In 2024, Tomashova's silver medal was stripped by CAS after re-testing of her samples. If the IOC reallocates the medal, Aregawi stands to be upgraded to silver and Shannon Rowbury to bronze.
* $^{400metreshurdles}$ In October 2022, more than 10 years and 2 months after the race, Natalya Antyukh's results from July 2012 to June 2013 were disqualified for doping after a retest of her samples, stripping her of the gold medal in the 400 m hurdles at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Medals were reallocated.
* $^{3000metressteeplechase}$ On 30 January 2015, the IOC confirmed that runner Yuliya Zaripova, Russia, will be stripped of her gold medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase after testing positive for anabolic steroids. On 4 June 2016, the gold medal was officially reallocated to second place Habiba Ghribi from Tunisia by the IOC and IAAF updated the results.
* $^{4×400metresrelay}$ On 1 February 2017, the International Olympic Committee stripped the silver medal of the Russian team due to doping of Antonina Krivoshapka Medals were reallocated.
* $^{20kilometreswalk}$ On 24 March 2016, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has issued decision that all competitive results obtained by Olga Kaniskina from 15 August 2009 to 15 October 2012 are disqualified for doping. Qieyang Shenjie of China was advanced to silver, and Liu Hong of China to bronze.
* $^{highjump}$ Bronze medalist Svetlana Shkolina of Russia was disqualified for doping in 2019. The bronze medal was then reallocated to Ruth Beitia of Spain in 2021.
* $^{shotput}$ The original winner, Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus, was stripped of her gold medal shortly after the event after failing a doping test. The rest of the competitors were elevated by one position accordingly. On 20 August 2016, Yevgeniya Kolodko of Russia was also stripped of her silver medal after retested samples from the competition returned a positive doping result. Gong Lijiao of China was advanced to silver, and Li Ling of China to bronze.
* $^{discusthrow}$ The original silver medalist, Darya Pishchalnikova of Russia, was stripped of her silver medal after failing drugs tests. The rest of the competitors were elevated by one position accordingly.
* $^{hammerthrow}$ The original gold medalist, Tatyana Lysenko of Russia, was stripped of her gold medal after failing drugs tests. Medals were reallocated.
* $^{heptathlon}$ On 29 November 2016, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has issued decision that all competitive results of original bronze medalist Tatyana Chernova of Russia between 15 August 2011 and 22 July 2013 are annulled due to failed drug tests. The bronze medal was awarded to Austra Skujytė of Lithuania.

## Records
### World and Olympic records

A total of four world records in athletics and eleven Olympic records were broken during the competition. This was fewer than were set at the Beijing Olympics (5 world, 17 Olympic records) but greater than the number set at the 2004 Games in Athens (2 world, 10 Olympic records).
China's Chen Ding was the first Olympic record breaker, improving the men's 20 km walk record. All three Olympic walk records were broken in London as Sergey Kirdyapkin bettered the Olympic 50 km walk time and Elena Lashmanova set a new world record in the women's 20 km walk. However, both records from Russian racewalkers were later rescinded due to doping.
Usain Bolt was the first track athlete to improve an Olympic record as he defended his 100 m title with a run of 9.63 s. He later joined the Jamaican 4 × 100 metres relay team (featuring Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Yohan Blake) to set a world record time of 36.84 s. The women's 4 × 100 metres relay event also saw a world record: an American team of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter ran 40.82 seconds to take half a second off a record which had stood for nearly 27 years. Further women's Olympic records were set by Ethiopia's Tiki Gelana in the marathon and Sally Pearson in the 100 metres hurdles.
David Rudisha improved his own 800 metres world record to 1:40.91 minutes, becoming the first man to break that record at the Olympics since Ralph Doubell did so at the 1968 Games. Renaud Lavillenie was the only man to break a field event record, as he cleared an Olympic best of 5.97 m to win the pole vault competition.
| Event | Date | Name | Nationality | Result | Type |
| Men's 100 metres | 5 August | Usain Bolt | Jamaica | 9.63 | OR |
| Men's 800 metres | 9 August | David Rudisha | Kenya | 1:40.91 | WR OR |
| Men's 4 × 100 metres relay | 11 August | Nesta Carter Michael Frater Yohan Blake Usain Bolt | Jamaica | 36.84 | WR OR |
| Men's 20 kilometres walk | 4 August | Chen Ding | China | 1:18:46 | OR |
| Men's 50 kilometres walk | 11 August | Jared Tallent | Australia | 3:36:53 | OR |
| Men's 50 kilometres walk | 11 August | Sergey Kirdyapkin | Russia | 3:35:59 | OR |
| Men's pole vault | 10 August | Renaud Lavillenie | France | 5.97 m | OR |
| Women's 100 metres hurdles | 7 August | Sally Pearson | Australia | 12.35 | OR |
| Women's marathon | 5 August | Tiki Gelana | Ethiopia | 2:23:07 | OR |
| Women's 20 kilometres walk | 11 August | Qieyang Shenjie | China | 1:25:16 | OR |
| Women's 20 kilometres walk | 11 August | Elena Lashmanova | Russia | 1:25:02 | WR OR |
| Women's 4 × 100 metres relay | 10 August | Tianna Madison Allyson Felix Bianca Knight Carmelita Jeter | United States | 40.82 | WR OR |
| Women's hammer throw | 10 August | Tatyana Lysenko | Russia | 78.18 m | OR |

## Doping

Prior to the Olympic competition, several prominent athletes were ruled out of the competition due to failed tests. World indoor medallists Dimitrios Chondrokoukis, Debbie Dunn, and Mariem Alaoui Selsouli were withdrawn from their Olympic teams in July for doping, as was 2004 Olympic medallist Zoltán Kővágó. At the Olympic competition, Tameka Williams admitted to taking a banned stimulant and was removed from the games. Ivan Tsikhan did not compete in the hammer throw as a re-test of his sample from the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he won silver, was positive. Hassan Hirt, Amine Laâlou, Marina Marghieva, Diego Palomeque, and defending 50 km walk champion Alex Schwazer were also suspended before taking part in their events.
Syrian hurdler Ghfran Almouhamad became the first track-and-field athlete to be suspended following a positive in-competition doping sample. Nadzeya Astapchuk was stripped of the women's shot put title after her sample came back positive for the banned anabolic agent metenolone. Karin Melis Mey was withdrawn before the long jump final when an earlier failed doping test was confirmed.
The women's 1500m final has been dubbed "one of the dirtiest races in athletics history", after five of the twelve runners were disqualified for doping offences, including the original first and second-placed finishers, and the fourth-placed finisher who subsequently moved up to second place following the previous two disqualifications.
Multiple medalists were found guilty of doping after the Olympics. Russia has the most (9) medals stripped.