On the track
Athletics is the original sport, and this word search gathers the track events. You'll track down the races — the SPRINT, the HURDLES, the RELAY and the long MARATHON — run in a LANE on the TRACK, from the starting BLOCKS to the FINISH line.
Each puzzle pulls a fresh selection from the list, so the meet changes every time you play — gentle on Easy, and a Hard-mode final once the diagonals and backwards words appear.
Out on the field
Beyond the track lie the FIELD events, and they're here too. Throw the JAVELIN, the DISCUS and the SHOT PUT, and leap the LONG JUMP, HIGH JUMP, TRIPLE JUMP and POLE VAULT. There's the SPRINTER passing the BATON, the all-round DECATHLON, the RUNNER chasing a MEDAL, and the roar of the STADIUM all around.
The oldest sport of all
Running, jumping and throwing are about as old as humans, and athletics — also called 'track and field' — has been at the heart of the Olympics since the ancient Greek games nearly 2,800 years ago. The events split neatly in two: track events are races, while field events are the throws and jumps held on the grass inside the track.
Some have great backstories. The MARATHON is run over about 26 miles to echo the legend of a Greek messenger who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens with news of a battle. And the DECATHLON crowns an all-rounder, with athletes scoring points across ten different events over two gruelling days.
Made for sports day
It's a great fit for sports day, a PE lesson or an Olympics topic — Easy mode keeps the grid small with no diagonals or reverse words. Play online, print a PDF pack, or use our Make Your Own tool to build a grid from the events you're running.
Frequently asked questions
What's in the athletics word search?
Track and field — sprints, hurdles, relays and the marathon, plus field events like the javelin, discus, shot put and pole vault. Each puzzle uses a fresh mix.
Does it cover both track and field?
Both — track races like the SPRINT, HURDLES and MARATHON, plus field events like the JAVELIN, DISCUS, SHOT PUT and POLE VAULT.
Is it good for a sports day or PE lesson?
Great fit — pair it with sports day or an Olympics topic. Easy mode keeps the grid small with no diagonals or reverse words.