The athletics competitions at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games marked a significant turning point with the introduction of women's events to the program. Held at the Olympic Stadium, the track and field portion featured 27 events, 22 for men and 5 for women, drawing athletes from across the globe. The Games witnessed a number of remarkable performances and the emergence of new talents.

Canada's Percy Williams was a standout, securing gold medals in both the men's 100m and 200m sprints. Finland continued its dominance in distance running, with Ville Ritola winning the 5000m and Paavo Nurmi claiming gold in the 10,000m, adding to his silver in the 5000m and steeplechase. Nurmi's participation marked the end of an era for the "Flying Finn." In the marathon, France's Boughera El Ouafi took the gold.

The debut of women's athletics saw the USA's Betty Robinson win the historic first gold in the 100m, while Germany's Lina Radke triumphed in the 800m. The Canadian quartet won the inaugural women's 4x100m relay. Poland's Halina Konopacka won the first women's Olympic discus title, and Canada's Ethel Catherwood secured gold in the high jump. These events, though limited, paved the way for greater female participation in future Games.

In the men's field events, the United States showcased its strength, with athletes winning gold in the high jump (Bob King), pole vault (Sabin Carr), long jump (Ed Hamm), shot put (John Kuck), discus throw (Bud Houser), and triple jump (Mikio Oda of Japan, Asia's first Olympic gold in athletics). Ireland's Pat O'Callaghan won the hammer throw, and Sweden's Erik Lundqvist took gold in the javelin. Finland's Paavo Yrjölä won the decathlon.

The United States topped the athletics medal table with 9 gold medals, followed by Finland with 5 and Canada with 4. The Amsterdam Games were notable for the absence of a single dominant athlete, with numerous nations achieving gold medals. The introduction of women's athletics, despite initial controversies and limitations, was a landmark moment, expanding the scope and appeal of the Olympic Games.