1988 in the sport of athletics

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

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

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

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

Marathon

 * Main race this year: Men's Olympic Marathon

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

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

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

3,000 metres

 * Main race this year: Women's Olympic 3,000 metres

10,000 metres

 * Main race this year: Women's Olympic 10,000 metres

Marathon

 * Main race this year: Women's Olympic Marathon

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 &mdash; Anna Bulgakova, Russian hammer thrower
 * January 21 &mdash; Ashton Eaton, American decathlete
 * January 26 &mdash; Gilbert Yegon, Kenyan long-distance runner
 * April 29 &mdash; Jan Kudlička, Czech pole vaulter
 * May 20 &mdash; Yomara Hinestroza, Colombian sprinter
 * May 26 &mdash; Dani Samuels, Australian discus thrower
 * June 22 &mdash; Yekaterina Yevseyeva, Kazakh high jumper
 * July 5 &mdash; Vincent Chepkok, Kenyan long-distance runner
 * August 4 &mdash; Liam Zamel-Paez, Australian high jumper
 * August 10 &mdash; Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, Kenyan marathon runner
 * August 24 &mdash; Matteo Galvan, Italian sprinter
 * August 29 &mdash; Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, English sprinter
 * September 5 &mdash; Chu Yafei, Chinese race walker
 * October 31 &mdash; Eglė Balčiūnaitė, Lithuanian middle-distance runner
 * December 17 &mdash; David Rudisha, Kenyan middle-distance runner

Deaths

 * July 8 — Ray Barbuti (83), American athlete (b. 1905)