US Olympic Trials (athletics)

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The United States Olympic Trials in Athletics are the eliminations for participation in the Olympic Games . Since 1992 these have also been the American championships in order to avoid an additional season highlight . Because of the large number of excellent participants, these trials are often more demanding than the Olympic Games themselves.

Standards

According to the rules of the IAAF , three athletes in athletics are allowed to take part in the World Championships or the Olympic Games, provided that all three have achieved the international A standard. If no one in a country has achieved this, someone who has achieved a B standard may participate . These standards are announced approximately 18 months in advance. From this point on, they can be validly reached. US citizens who have fulfilled the A standard and, if applicable, those with the B standards, which are required to fill in the starting fields accordingly, may take part in the trials. Anyone who is banned for doping is excluded from participation. Usually 24 or 32 athletes take part in the popular sprint competitions.

history

Before 1908, the American team was selected. Since there were generally no restrictions on participation, the American Olympic Committee and the relevant professional association (mostly the AAU ) had to determine the amateur status. In 1908 and 1912 there were regional trials, but mainly athletes from the east were preferred. The regional trials existed until 1936. This ensured that African-Americans from the south could still qualify, even though they were forbidden to compete against whites in the south . There were no trials in the war in 1916, 1940 and 1944, as there were no Olympic Games either. Until 1972 the trials of men and women were conducted separately.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/OlympicTrials-TF/ USATF Olympic Trials 2008
  2. ↑ http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf The History of the Olympic Trials, published by USATF
  3. ^ Arnd Krüger : The Olympic Games 1936 and the world opinion. Its importance in foreign policy, with particular reference to the USA. Berlin: Bartels & Wernitz 1972. ISBN 3-87039-925-2 .