Athletics is a sport rich in history and achievement, showcasing the remarkable talents of athletes across various events. Below are the medalists for the prestigious 100 metres and 200 metres races, highlighting the champions from past Olympic Games.
100 Metres Medalists
| Year | Host City | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1896 | Athens | Thomas Burke (USA) | Fritz Hofmann (GER) | Francis Lane (USA) |
| 1900 | Paris | Frank Jarvis (USA) | Walter Tewksbury (USA) | Stan Rowley (AUS) |
| 1904 | St. Louis | Archie Hahn (USA) | Nathaniel Cartmell (USA) | William Hogenson (USA) |
| 1908 | London | Reggie Walker (RSA) | James Rector (USA) | Robert Kerr (CAN) |
| 1912 | Stockholm | Ralph Craig (USA) | Alvah Meyer (USA) | Donald Lippincott (USA) |
| 1920 | Antwerp | Charley Paddock (USA) | Morris Kirksey (USA) | Harry Edward (GBR) |
| 1924 | Paris | Harold Abrahams (GBR) | Jackson Scholz (USA) | Arthur Porritt (NZL) |
| 1928 | Amsterdam | Percy Williams (CAN) | Jack London (GBR) | Georg Lammers (GER) |
| 1932 | Los Angeles | Eddie Tolan (USA) | Ralph Metcalfe (USA) | Arthur Jonath (GER) |
| 1936 | Berlin | Jesse Owens (USA) | Ralph Metcalfe (USA) | Tinus Osendarp (NED) |
| 1948 | London | Harrison Dillard (USA) | Barney Ewell (USA) | Lloyd LaBeach (PAN) |
| 1952 | Helsinki | Lindy Remigino (USA) | Herb McKenley (JAM) | McDonald Bailey (GBR) |
| 1956 | Melbourne | Bobby Morrow (USA) | Thane Baker (USA) | Hector Hogan (AUS) |
| 1960 | Rome | Armin Hary (EUA) | Dave Sime (USA) | Peter Radford (GBR) |
| 1964 | Tokyo | Bob Hayes (USA) | Enrique Figuerola (CUB) | Harry Jerome (CAN) |
| 1968 | Mexico City | Jim Hines (USA) | Lennox Miller (JAM) | Charles Greene (USA) |
| 1972 | Munich | Valeriy Borzov (URS) | Robert Taylor (USA) | Lennox Miller (JAM) |
| 1976 | Montreal | Hasely Crawford (TRI) | Don Quarrie (JAM) | Valeriy Borzov (URS) |
| 1980 | Moscow | Allan Wells (GBR) | Silvio Leonard (CUB) | Petar Petrov (BUL) |
| 1984 | Los Angeles | Carl Lewis (USA) | Sam Graddy (USA) | Ben Johnson (CAN) |
| 1988 | Seoul | Carl Lewis (USA) | Linford Christie (GBR) | Calvin Smith (USA) |
| 1992 | Barcelona | Linford Christie (GBR) | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Dennis Mitchell (USA) |
| 1996 | Atlanta | Donovan Bailey (CAN) | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Ato Boldon (TRI) |
| 2000 | Sydney | Maurice Greene (USA) | Ato Boldon (TRI) | Obadele Thompson (BAR) |
| 2004 | Athens | Justin Gatlin (USA) | Francis Obikwelu (POR) | Maurice Greene (USA) |
| 2008 | Beijing | Usain Bolt (JAM) | Richard Thompson (TRI) | Walter Dix (USA) |
| 2012 | London | Usain Bolt (JAM) | Yohan Blake (JAM) | Justin Gatlin (USA) |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Usain Bolt (JAM) | Justin Gatlin (USA) | Andre De Grasse (CAN) |
200 Metres Medalists
| Year | Host City | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1900 | Paris | Walter Tewksbury (USA) | Norman Pritchard (IND) | Stan Rowley (AUS) |
| 1904 | St. Louis | Archie Hahn (USA) | Nate Cartmell (USA) | William Hogenson (USA) |
| 1908 | London | Robert Kerr (CAN) | Robert Cloughen (USA) | Nate Cartmell (USA) |
| 1912 | Stockholm | Ralph Craig (USA) | Donald Lippincott (USA) | Willie Applegarth (GBR) |
| 1920 | Antwerp | Allen Woodring (USA) | Charley Paddock (USA) | Harry Edward (GBR) |
| 1924 | Paris | Jackson Scholz (USA) | Charley Paddock (USA) | Eric Liddell (GBR) |
| 1928 | Amsterdam | Percy Williams (CAN) | Walter Rangeley (GBR) | Helmut Körnig (GER) |
| 1932 | Los Angeles | Eddie Tolan (USA) | George Simpson (USA) | Ralph Metcalfe (USA) |
| 1936 | Berlin | Jesse Owens (USA) | Mack Robinson (USA) | Tinus Osendarp (NED) |
| 1948 | London | Mel Patton (USA) | Barney Ewell (USA) | Lloyd LaBeach (PAN) |
| 1952 | Helsinki | Andy Stanfield (USA) | Thane Baker (USA) | James Gathers (USA) |
| 1956 | Melbourne | Bobby Morrow (USA) | Andy Stanfield (USA) | Thane Baker (USA) |
| 1960 | Rome | Livio Berruti (ITA) | Lester Carney (USA) | Abdoulaye Seye (FRA) |
| 1964 | Tokyo | Henry Carr (USA) | Paul Drayton (USA) | Edwin Roberts (TTO) |
| 1968 | Mexico City | Tommie Smith (USA) | Peter Norman (AUS) | John Carlos (USA) |
| 1972 | Munich | Valeriy Borzov (URS) | Larry Black (USA) | Pietro Mennea (ITA) |
| 1976 | Montreal | Don Quarrie (JAM) | Millard Hampton (USA) | Dwayne Evans (USA) |
| 1980 | Moscow | Pietro Mennea (ITA) | Allan Wells (GBR) | Don Quarrie (JAM) |
| 1984 | Los Angeles | Carl Lewis (USA) | Kirk Baptiste (USA) | Thomas Jefferson (USA) |
| 1988 | Seoul | Joe DeLoach (USA) | Carl Lewis (USA) | Robson da Silva (BRA) |
| 1992 | Barcelona | Michael Marsh (USA) | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Michael Bates (USA) |
| 1996 | Atlanta | Michael Johnson (USA) | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Ato Boldon (TRI) |
| 2000 | Sydney | Konstantinos Kenteris (GRE) | Darren Campbell (GBR) | Ato Boldon (TRI) |
| 2004 | Athens | Shawn Crawford (USA) | Bernard Williams (USA) | Justin Gatlin (USA) |
| 2008 | Beijing | Usain Bolt (JAM) | Shawn Crawford (USA) | Walter Dix (USA) |
| 2012 | London | Usain Bolt (JAM) | Yohan Blake (JAM) | Warren Weir (JAM) |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Usain Bolt (JAM) | Andre De Grasse (CAN) | Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) |