The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the first modern games in 1896.

The event was derived from the imperial measurement of a half mile (880 yards), a traditional British racing distance.

Gaining a front position early in the race is often advantageous as there are occasionally trips when running in a pack.

Olympic champions Dave Wottle, Kelly Holmes and others have defied that logic by running a more evenly paced race, lagging behind the pack and accelerating past the slowing early leaders.

Theoretically, an even split is the most efficient running mode,[citation needed] but it is difficult to pace correctly.