It will be harder to qualify for the next Olympics

Athletes face stricter qualification standards for the Los Angeles Olympics compared to the Paris Games, with only 40% expected to meet the new benchmarks. The World Athletics (WA) has raised the qualifying times and distances, particularly in endurance events. For instance, the men's marathon qualifying time has been reduced from 2:08:10 to 2:05:00, while the women's time has changed from 2:26:50 to 2:22:20. Additionally, improvements are required in shorter distances, such as the 100 meters. Meeting the qualification standard does not guarantee Olympic participation, as only three athletes per country can compete in each event. The qualification period for marathon runners began on November 1, 2023, while other events will have varying start and end dates for qualification.