Editing Sprint (running) (section)

==History==
{{Expand section|small=no|1=historical records of sprinting after the Ancient Olympics but before 1896|section=1|date=March 2019}}
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{{See also|History of physical training and fitness}}
[[File:Stadion of Nemea.jpg|thumbnail|The ''stadion'' of ancient [[Nemea]], Greece]]

The first 13 editions of the [[Ancient Olympic Games]] featured only one event—the [[stadion race]], which was a sprinting race from one end of the stadium to the other.<ref name=Instone>Instone, Stephen (15 November 2009). [https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greek_olympics_01.shtml#two The Olympics: Ancient versus Modern]. [[BBC]]. Retrieved on 23 March 2010.</ref> The [[Diaulos (running race)|Diaulos]] (Δίαυλος, "double pipe") was a double-stadion race, {{circa|{{convert|400|m|abbr=off}}}}, introduced in the 14th [[Olympiad]] of the [[ancient Olympic Games]] (724{{nbsp}}BC).

Sprint races were part of the original Olympic Games in the 7th century&nbsp;BC as well as the first modern Olympic Games which started in the late 19th century ([[1896 Summer Olympics|Athens 1896]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Athens 1896 Olympic Games|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Athens-1896-Olympic-Games|access-date=2021-07-27|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> and featured the 100&nbsp;metres and 400&nbsp;metres.  Athletes started both races from a crouched start (4-point stance).  In both the original Olympics and the modern Olympics, only men were allowed to participate in track and field until the [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928 games]] in Amsterdam, Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/amsterdam-1928 |title=Amsterdam 1928 |website=Olympics.com |date=25 April 2018 |access-date=9 August 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805135817/https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/amsterdam-1928 |archive-date=Aug 5, 2021 }}</ref>  The 1928 games were also the first games to use a 400-metre track, which became the standard for track and field.

The modern sprinting events have their roots in races of [[imperial measurement]]s which were later altered to metric: the 100&nbsp;m evolved from the [[100-yard dash]],<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=4661.html 100 m – Introduction]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.</ref> the 200&nbsp;m distance came from the [[furlong]] (or {{frac|8}} [[mile]]),<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=4677.html 200 m Introduction]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.</ref> and the 400&nbsp;m was the successor to the [[440-yard dash]] or quarter-mile race.<ref name="400M" />

Technological advances have always improved sprint performances (i.e., starting blocks, synthetic track material, and shoe technology).  In 1924, athletes used a small shovel to dig holes to start the race.   The world record in the 100-metre dash in 1924 was 10.4 seconds, while in 1948, (the first use of starting blocks) was 10.2&nbsp;seconds, and was 10.1&nbsp;seconds in 1956.  The constant drive for faster athletes with better technology has brought man from 10.4&nbsp;seconds to 9.58&nbsp;seconds in less than 100&nbsp;years.

Track events were measured with the [[metric system]] except for the United Kingdom and the United States until 1965 and 1974 respectively.  The [[Amateur Athletic Union|Amateur Athletic Association (AAU)]]{{CN|date=January 2023}} decided to switch track and field in the U.S. to the metric system to finally make track and field internationally equivalent.