This article contains an overview of the sport of athletics, including track and field, cross country and road running, in the year 2002.
There was no primary championships that season, although continental championships were held in Africa, Asia and Europe. The foremost athletics competitions at games events occurred at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the 2002 Asian Games and the 2002 CAC Games. The 2002 IAAF World Cup was the major global outdoor track and field event.
Paula Radcliffe was among the season's top performers, having set world records at the London and Chicago Marathons, as well becoming European and Commonwealth champion on the track.
Major events
World
Regional
National
World records
Men
None in 2002
Women
Awards
Men
Women
Men's Best Year Performances
Women's Best Year Performances
Marathon
Men's competition
Commonwealth Games
Best Year Performances
Women's competition
Commonwealth Games
Best Year Performances
Deaths
- March 7 — Franziska Rochat-Moser (35), Swiss long-distance runner
- March 22 — Marcel Hansenne (85), French middle-distance runner
- March 27 — Tadeusz Rut (70), Polish hammer thrower
- May 26 — Mamo Wolde (69), Ethiopian runner
- June 17 — Willie Davenport (59), American hurdler
- June 20 — Tinus Osendarp (86), Dutch athlete
- August 1 — Theo Bruce (79), Australian long jumper
- August 12 — Knud Lundberg (82), Danish multi-talented sportsman
- August 31 — Joe McCluskey (91), American athlete
- September 18 — Bob Hayes (59), American sprinter and American football player
- November 15 — Sohn Kee-Chung (90), Korean marathoner
- November 18 — Kim Gallagher (38), American athlete
References