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Lifting the greatest weight possible is the goal for these athletes, with the snatch and clean and jerk methods bringing the biggest lifts.

Men's wrestling is an Olympic Games ever-present, with the women's event joining the programme in 2004.

Reaction times are just one of the many components that can make a difference when the fastest runners on the planet race for global glory.

The marathon made its debut at the first Olympics and has been the ultimate running endurance event ever since.

Throwing a metal-tipped spear overarm as far as it can go without surpassing the throwing arc takes skill, speed and strength.

Tensions run high as teams of the world's top sprinters sprint to pass the baton to the next runner without dropping it.

Throwing hammer is as much about footwork as it is about the upper body, but combining both with speed will determine the winner.

Competing in the hurdles is about rhythm, technique and speed and the slightest mistake can cost an athlete the race.

Competing in long jump is more than running and jumping: it's speed, stamina, flexibility and a series of calculated movements.

The three-stage hop, step and jump springboards athletes to lengths that sometimes reach 10-times their body's height.