World Athletics: Meeting LA 2028 Olympic Games Automatic Standard Does Not Guarantee Olympic Qualification
Athletes who achieve the automatic entry standards for athletics at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are not guaranteed qualification, World Athletics has clarified.
The world governing body said achieving the required mark or time does not automatically secure an Olympic quota place if the number of athletes meeting the standard exceeds the available quota for an event.
In such circumstances, qualification will be restricted to athletes with the best performances during the applicable qualification period, subject to the quota allocated to each event.
World Athletics explained that its Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games qualification system adopts a dual pathway, with 40 per cent of athletes expected to qualify through automatic entry standards and the remaining 60 per cent through world rankings.
However, where the number of athletes achieving the entry standard exceeds the available quota, places will be awarded based on performances, with no additional places allocated through world rankings.
The qualification system covers 23 men’s events, 23 women’s events and two mixed events, including the 4x100m mixed relay, which will make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
