This article contains an overview of the year 1988 in athletics.
International events
- African Championships
- Balkan Games
- European Indoor Championships
- Olympic Games
- World Cross Country Championships
- World Junior Championships
World records
Men
- Carl Lewis finished behind Ben Johnson (9.79) who was disqualified for a failed drugs test
- 4 × 400 team equalled the record by the United States on October 20, 1968, by Vincent Matthews, Ron Freeman, Larry James and Lee Evans.
Women
- Many observers believe Griffith-Joyner's time of 10.49 should not have been accepted as a record due to excessive following wind
- Christyakova equalled the previous record of 7.45m with a prior jump
Men's Best Year Performers
100 metres
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 100 metres
200 metres
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 200 metres
400 metres
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 400 metres
800 metres
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 800 metres
1,500 metres
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 1,500 metres
Mile
3,000 metres
5,000 metres
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 5,000 metres
10,000 metres
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 10,000 metres
Half marathon
Marathon
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic Marathon
Race Walking
110m hurdles
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 110m hurdles
400m hurdles
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 400m hurdles
3,000m steeplechase
- Main race this year: Men's Olympic 3,000m steeplechase
High jump
- Main competition this year: Men's Olympic High Jump
Long jump
- Main competition this year: Men's Olympic Long Jump
Triple jump
- Main competition this year: Men's Olympic Triple Jump
Discus
- Main competition this year: Men's Olympic Discus Throw
Shot put
- Main competition this year: Men's Olympic Shot Put
Hammer
Javelin (new design)
- Main competition this year: Men's Olympic Javelin Throw
Pole vault
- Main competition this year: Men's Olympic Pole Vault
Decathlon
- Main competition this year: Men's Olympic Decathlon
Women's Best Year Performers
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 100 metres
100 metres
200 metres
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 200 metres
400 metres
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 400 metres
800 metres
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 800 metres
1,500 metres
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 1,500 metres
Mile
3,000 metres
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 3,000 metres
5,000 metres
10,000 metres
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 10,000 metres
Half marathon
Marathon
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic Marathon
Race Walking
100m hurdles
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 100m hurdles
400m hurdles
- Main race this year: Women's Olympic 400m hurdles
High Jump
- Main competition this year: Women's Olympic High Jump
Long Jump
- Main competition this year: Women's Olympic Long Jump
Shot put
- Main competition this year: Women's Olympic Shot Put
Discus throw
- Main competition this year: Women's Olympic Discus Throw
Javelin (old design)
- Main competition this year: Women's Olympic Javelin Throw
Heptathlon
- Main competition this year: Women's Olympic Heptathlon
Births
- January 17 — Anna Bulgakova, Russian hammer thrower
- January 21 — Ashton Eaton, American decathlete
- January 26 — Gilbert Yegon, Kenyan long-distance runner
- April 29 — Jan Kudlička, Czech pole vaulter
- May 20 — Yomara Hinestroza, Colombian sprinter
- May 26 — Dani Samuels, Australian discus thrower
- June 22 — Yekaterina Yevseyeva, Kazakh high jumper
- July 5 — Vincent Chepkok, Kenyan long-distance runner
- August 4 — Liam Zamel-Paez, Australian high jumper
- August 10 — Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, Kenyan marathon runner
- August 24 — Matteo Galvan, Italian sprinter
- August 29 — Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, English sprinter
- September 5 — Chu Yafei, Chinese race walker
- October 31 — Eglė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian middle-distance runner
- December 17 — David Rudisha, Kenyan middle-distance runner
Deaths
- July 8 — Ray Barbuti (83), American athlete (b. 1905)
References
- Year Lists
- 1988 Year Rankings
- Association of Road Racing Statisticians
