Ten hurdles are placed in an Olympic men’s 110-metre hurdles race.
The first hurdle is positioned 13.72 metres from the starting line. The remaining nine hurdles are spaced 9.14 metres apart, and the final hurdle stands 14.02 metres before the finish. This arrangement is part of the standardized event specification used in elite athletics.
Men’s high hurdles evolved from nineteenth-century races in British universities. The event was included in the first modern Olympic athletics programme in 1896, although the early race distance and hurdle layout differed from today’s format. The 110-metre distance became the established men’s championship event, while women traditionally compete in the 100-metre hurdles.
Athletes generally use a three-step rhythm between hurdles. Clearing the barriers efficiently requires maintaining speed, controlling the lead and trail legs, and minimizing time in the air. Knocking down a hurdle is not automatically a disqualification, but deliberately interfering with another competitor or failing to clear a hurdle according to the rules can lead to disqualification.