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Athletics is widely regarded as one of the flagship sports of the Olympic Games, encompassing a range of track and field events that include competitive running, jumping, throwing, and race walking. Since its inclusion in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, athletics has featured in every edition of the Games, playing a key role in enhancing its global popularity. This was further reinforced by the establishment of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now known as World Athletics, in 1912.
Women’s events were introduced for the first time at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, while the men’s programme was standardized beginning with the 1932 Games in Los Angeles. Today, the events contested by women are nearly identical to those for men, reflecting the sport's evolution toward gender equality.
Athletics stands as Team Qatar’s most successful Olympic sport, with a total of four medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze. Mohammed Suleiman secured Qatar’s first-ever Olympic medal with a bronze in the men’s 1500m at Barcelona 1992. Mutaz Barshim, Qatar’s most decorated Olympian, captured the nation’s first athletics gold at Tokyo 2020, in addition to winning silver medals in London 2012 and Rio 2016, and a bronze at Paris 2024.
In a landmark achievement, Qatar hosted the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 — the first time the event was held in the Middle East.
Qatar Athletics Federation
Established in 1960, the Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) is one of the oldest and most distinguished sports governing bodies in the country. It is responsible for overseeing the development of athletics across all disciplines and age groups, in accordance with World Athletics regulations. The federation plays a central role in talent identification, athlete development, national competition management, and representing Qatar at regional and global events.
Qatar’s rise on the international athletics stage is deeply tied to the success of its elite athletes, particularly Mutaz Barshim, one of the greatest high jumpers of all time. Barshim has built a legendary Olympic record, earning bronze in London 2012, silver in Rio 2016, gold in Tokyo 2020, and most recently, bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He is also a three-time World Champion (2017, 2019, 2023), making him a global icon in the sport. Another prominent Qatari athlete is Abderrahman Samba, who won bronze in the 400m hurdles at the 2019 World Championships in Doha and holds the second-fastest time ever recorded in the event.
On the organizational front, QAF has firmly positioned Qatar as a premier destination for athletics by hosting several high-profile events, including the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, the annual Doha Diamond League, and the Asian Athletics Championships 2019, in addition to various Gulf and Arab competitions.
Mr. Mohammed Eisa Al Fadhala
President
Mr. Essa Abdullah Al Harami
Secretary GeneralContact
