World Athletics sets Qualification Standards for LA 2028 Olympics

The World Athletics has announced the qualification criteria for athletes at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics games. It will provide athletes a timeline and performance targets as they prepare for the competition.

The system will use two routes to fill the available places. Approximately 40% of the athletes are expected to qualify by meeting entry standards, while the remaining 60% will be chosen based on world rankings.

In sprint events, the standards are 9.93 seconds for the men's 100 metres and 10.96 seconds for the women's 100 metres events. The 200 metres standards include 19.95 seconds for men and 22.25 seconds for women. Standards in the 400 metres are 44.40 seconds and 49.90 seconds.

Other track events require equally challenging standards. The men's 800 meters is timed at 1:43.00 while the standard for finishing the women's 800 meters is set at 1:57.00. The women's 1500 metres event requires participants to achieve a standard of 3:57.50.

Achieving the minimum requirements does not mean that the available places will be filled automatically if the number of qualifying athletes exceeds an event’s quota. In such cases, selection will be based on performances during the qualification period, with world rankings also determining who received the available places.

For most events, the qualification period will run from June 19, 2027, and June 18, 2028. The 10,000 metres, combined events, race walks, and relays will have an earlier start date of December 19, 2026. Marathon qualification performances can count from November 1, 2026.

Relay teams will have an opportunity to qualify through the 2028 World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas. The top 14 nations will earn Olympic places, with additional qualification chances available on the second day and through the world performance lists.

The Los Angeles athletics programme will feature 48 events, including the introduction of the mixed 4x100 metres relay. Field event standards include 8.30 metres in the men’s long jump, 6.90 metres in the women’s long jump, 17.35 metres and 14.50 metres in the men’s and women’s triple jump, and 2.32 metres and 1.97 metres in the high jump.

World Athletics is planning to launch its official qualification tracker known as Road to LA during the latter part of 2027. It will help athletes and supporters follow qualification progress ahead of the Games, scheduled for July 15-30, 2028.

The qualification criteria are based on outcomes from the past four major world competitions, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships. It aims to ensure that the number of athletes remain within the approved quotas.