Athletics may seem boring and a waste of time. No one really wants to sit in the hot sun watching random people run as fast as possible. Trust me, no one will intentionally put themselves in this position. If I hadn't tried to follow athletics myself, I would have thought the same thing that many others think about the sport. There are so many hours of training and coaching to cross that line first, jump a goal height or even throw a winning distance. Since joining athletics it has been very challenging and inspiring. It's certainly not the easiest sport. Participating in athletics has not only helped me to excel, but also encouraged me to believe in myself and what I can achieve. It encourages you to work hard for yourself to help the team. Essentially, it's all up to you and no matter how much you're willing to put into it, the more you'll get out. It taught me to support my team no matter what obstacles come our way. I have never appreciated and loved a sport as much as athletics. However, I am not the only person affected by athletics, the entire United States has been touched by this sport and it has evolved enormously. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Track has a long history dating back to the ancient Greek Olympic Games. The first organized series of track and field competitions was started by the NYAC in 1870. They were held twice a year and were called the Spring and Fall Games. In 1876, it was decided that a national athletics championship was compulsory. Thus, the 1876 fall games were chosen because the host meets for these games. This is where the first American athletics championship took place. “The sport of track and field, because it is in today's times a combination of running, throwing and jumping competitions, can be seen growing through many avenues to America.” One of them was the recent European sports carnivals. These carnivals involved many sporting events grouped into one big competition, much like athletics is today. Another route was pure running. Competitions involving only running were developed in Europe and then introduced to America. Almost all aspects came from Europe and were then imported to America. After the Civil War, the track had begun to adopt a more formal and amateur style. Running became more standardized and sports clubs began popping up across the country. With all of these developments, the game of athletics began to match what it is today in America. Today, many people are involved and engaged in this sport. One person in particular I'd like to talk about is Sydney McLaughlin. She is an American hurdler and sprinter who competed for the University of Kentucky. This was before she turned professional. She won the silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in the 400m hurdles, where she set a new personal best of 52.53 seconds. McLaughlin comes from a very athletic family. His father Willie was a semifinalist in the 400 meters at the 1984 Olympic Trials, while his mother Mary was a high school runner. His older brother Taylor won silver in the 400 meters hurdles at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships. McLaughlin started running at a very young age, following Taylor and his older sister Morgan. She placed second to Shamier Little in the 400 meter hurdles at the junior national championships..