Women's 100-meter Championship Race Moved to First Day of Los Angeles 2028 Games in Schedule Rejig

The women's 100m final is set to feature on the first day of events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a key element in organisers' plans to “launch spectacularly”.

The surprise move, resulting in every stage of the 100m occurring on the identical date, was praised by US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson, who commented that it demonstrated “the sport is enjoying a resurgence”.

The UK’s Dina Asher-Smith also backed the change for the Games, scheduled from July 15th to 30th. “It’s such an exciting opportunity – celebrating the enduring legacy, strength and global power of women’s sprinting, exactly 100 years on from the first time women competed in Olympic track and field,” she added.

While sprinters typically compete up to two times daily, World Athletics stated it had engaged extensively with participants to ensure they supported the arrangement.

“Hosting the premier event on the opening evening at the iconic LA Memorial Coliseum – when we explained it to competitors, they were thrilled,” noted Janet Evans, the Games’ chief athlete officer. “Most athletes told me: ‘Simply inform me. Give me advance notice, and I’ll prepare to race three 100-meter events in a single day.’”

The international federation explained it had intentionally designed the program to enable as many athletes as possible to “enter more than one race”, not only in events like the sprints but also the middle-distance runs and the 1500m and 5,000m. Officials confirmed that there would be 10 days’ worth of competition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a mixed 100m relay being introduced, along with 72 hours of street competitions at the end of the Games.

“We’ve developed a track and field schedule that kicks off spectacularly with female sprinters in the spotlight on the first day,” stated Seb Coe, World Athletics president. “This programme blends creativity with respect for customs, featuring the men’s marathon on the closing day.”

Nonetheless, the schedule suggests it’s doubtful that American athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can run in both the 400m and the 400 hurdles, given the 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400m final fall on the identical date.

Aquatics has historically initiated the Olympics. However, since it is taking place in SoFi Stadium, which hosts the inaugural event, it commences in the following week.

Planners further stated that the first day will showcase the highest number of female championship events ever in a single day in Olympic history, with the female triathlon title among those up for grabs. They have also scheduled a Super Saturday on the second-to-last day, with 26 titles across 23 sports available.

Shana Ferguson, LA28’s chief of sport and games delivery, said the aim is to distribute around 14,000,000 passes across 51 disciplines at 49 sites, with public sales scheduled to open in April 2026. Officials added that organisers would not employ the contentious flexible ticket pricing that provoked outrage among Oasis fans this past summer and experimented with by Fifa at the Club World Cup in the US.