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Race walking has been an integral part of Olympic Athletics since its debut in 1904 at the St. Louis Games. Initially, the 1500-meter walk was introduced, with events gradually expanding to include the 10,000-meter walk in 1956. The men's 50-kilometer race walk debuted in 1932, while the women's 20-kilometer race walk made its entry much later in 2000.

Throughout its history, race walking witnessed notable moments, such as Soviet dominance from 1956 to 1988, particularly with athletes like Vladimir Golubnichy and Vyacheslav Ivanenko. Ecuador's Jefferson Pérez made history at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics by becoming the first South American to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics, triumphing in the men's 20-kilometer race walk.

In recent years, French race walker Yohann Diniz set a world record in the men's 50-kilometer race walk at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Tokyo 2020/2021 featured race walking events, including the men's and women's 20-kilometer and 50-kilometer races. The Tokyo Games also highlighted challenges in the sport, particularly related to judging and adherence to rules, such as the requirement for one foot to be in contact with the ground at all times.

Notable race walkers like Jared Tallent from Australia, a medalist in multiple Olympics, and Russia's Elena Lashmanova, who set a world record in the women's 20-kilometer race walk at the 2012 London Olympics, have contributed to the discipline's legacy.

Race walking's history in Olympic Athletics reflects its evolution, challenges, and the dedication of athletes who excel in both speed and technical precision. The discipline continues to be a distinctive and challenging component of the Olympic Games, showcasing the enduring spirit of race walkers on the global stage.

The athlete with the most medals in the Olympic Athletics Race Walk is Robert Korzeniowski from Poland. Korzeniowski achieved remarkable success in the Olympic Games, winning gold in the 50-kilometer race walk in Atlanta 1996, gold in both the 20-kilometer and 50-kilometer race walks in Sydney 2000, and another gold in the 50-kilometer race walk in Athens 2004. In total, he secured four gold medals, solidifying his status as one of the greatest racewalkers in Olympic history.

The Olympic Athletics Marathon has a rich history, marked by iconic moments and enduring spirit. The first Olympic Marathon took place in Athens in 1896. Spiridon Louis of Greece emerged as the victor, forever associating the Marathon with the legendary run from the Battle of Marathon.

The marathon distance was standardized to 42.195 kilometers in the 1900 Paris Olympics. World Wars I and II led to interruptions in the Games scheduled for 1916, 1940, and 1944. Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila made history at the 1960 Rome Olympics, winning the marathon barefoot. The women's marathon debuted in Los Angeles in 1984, with Joan Benoit securing the historic gold.

In recent years, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya has been a dominant force, winning gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and successfully defending his title at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021. The marathon continues to captivate athletes, showcasing physical endurance and mental fortitude on the grand Olympic stage. Each edition adds new chapters to its compelling narrative. The athlete with the most gold medals in the Olympic Athletics Marathon is Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia. Bikila achieved this remarkable feat by winning back-to-back gold medals in the Olympic Marathons. In Rome in 1960, he made history by running barefoot, and he followed it up with another gold in Tokyo in 1964, this time wearing shoes.

Scheduled from August 1 to 11, 2024, the Paris Summer Olympics athletics lineup spans 48 medal events across track and field, road running, and racewalking, with venues including Pont d'Iéna, Hôtel de Ville, Les Invalides, and Stade de France. Marking a historic first, an equal number of medal events for men and women will feature at these Games. Introducing the Marathon Race Walking Mixed Relay on a marathon course, this event replaces the men's 50-kilometer race walk, emphasizing gender equality.

Notably, the athletics program adopts a repechage-round format for individual track events (200 to 1500 meters) and hurdles (110m for men, 100m for women, and 400m for both), offering runners a second shot at reaching the semifinals, replacing the former fastest overall times qualification system.