A New Dawn for the Olympics: Athletics Takes the Opening Slot
In a historic shift for the Olympic Games, track and field will usurp swimming as the first sport to award medals at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. This seismic schedule change, confirmed by organisers, means the iconic LA Memorial Coliseum will host a packed first day of athletics on 15 July 2028, setting a new precedent for the world's biggest sporting event.
Women's 100 Metre Sprinters Face Unprecedented Challenge
The most immediate consequence of this reshuffle is a gruelling test for the world's fastest women. For the first time at a major championship, the women's 100 metres will hold all three rounds—heats, semi-finals, and the final—on the same day. This triple-header is a significant departure from the norm, where sprinters typically run a maximum of two races in 24 hours.
Janet Evans, the four-time gold medal swimmer who is now the Chief Athlete Officer for the LA Games, revealed that athletes were consulted about the demanding schedule. "To be the pre-eminent event on the first night of competition in the historic LA Memorial Coliseum, I think when we presented it to the athletes that way, there was excitement," Evans stated. She added that a majority of competitors responded positively, saying, "Just let me know. Let me know early, and I’ll start training to run three 100s in one day."
This gives a potential field featuring the last two world champions, Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, along with Olympic champion Julien Alfred, nearly three years to prepare for this unique physical and mental challenge. Notably, the men's sprint schedule will not be altered in the same way.
Swimming Moves to SoFi Stadium
The rationale behind the dramatic switch stems from the venues themselves. The opening ceremony will be held at the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium, which will also host the swimming competition. Organisers determined it was not feasible to construct the Olympic pool in the stadium so quickly after the ceremony's conclusion.
Rather than seeing this as a demotion, the swimming community has embraced the move. Evans highlighted the opportunity to compete in what is widely considered LA's best new stadium, promising a spectacular atmosphere in front of 38,000 fans. The change also resolves a long-standing issue for swimmers, who often miss the opening ceremony because their events begin the very next day. "I could probably name on my two hands the swimmers I know who have actually been to opening ceremonies," Evans noted.
Schedule Rules Out McLaughlin-Levrone Double Bid
The newly released schedule has also delivered a verdict on another much-discussed topic: the potential for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to attempt a 400m and 400m hurdles double. The world-record holder and two-time defending champion in the hurdles had taken a year off from that event to focus on the flat 400m, where she spectacularly ran under 48 seconds at the world championships.
While her coach, Bobby Kersee, had hinted at a possible double attempt, and past Olympics have tailored schedules to accommodate star athletes like Michael Johnson, the LA 2028 timetable makes it virtually impossible. The 400m hurdles semi-finals and the 400m final are both scheduled for 20 July, creating an insurmountable clash.
Shana Ferguson, Chief of Sport and Games Delivery, confirmed that the schedule was developed in consultation with World Athletics. "I can't speak directly to any particular athlete's schedule or how he or she is approaching the Games but we are arm and arm in the development of a contest schedule," Ferguson said, indicating a collaborative approach to the final timetable.
This comprehensive schedule release sets the stage for a uniquely demanding and thrilling start to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with athletics firmly in the spotlight.
