Four years ago for Games in Athens, I devised a points system to rank the leading track and field athletes in the history of the Olympics. This year, the list has been updated and revised to include all the discontinued events that were left out in 2004.

The inclusion of such events as the standing long jump and 56-pound weight throw has made a dramatic impact on the top 100 rankings and produced a surprise athlete in the No 1 position.

Of course, it is impossible to compare the athletes of the early Games against the professionals of the modern era and such legends as Dick Fosbury and Bob Beamon, who made such dramatic impacts on the sport, are missing because they appeared in only one Games. But that's the beauty of a list - it gets people talking ... and fuming.

The points system

All top-eight finishers in track and field events have been awarded points according to the following scale: 1st 12pts; 2nd 9pts; 3rd 7pts; 4th 5pts; 5th 4pts; 6th 3pts; 7th 2pts; 8th 1pt.

Competitors in relays and team events are given half the points: 1st 6pts; 2nd 4.5pts; 3rd 3.5pts; 4th 2.5pts; 5th 2pts; 6th 1.5pts; 7th 1pt; 8th 0.5pt.

94=

Daley Thompson (Great Britain) 30pts
born 1958 Notting Hill, London

Gold decathlon 1980; decathlon 1984
Fourth decathlon 1988. Seventh 4x100m 1984

One of the sport's great all-rounders, Thompson became the first athlete to hold Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World titles at the same time when he won in Los Angeles, setting a world record of 8847 points that stood for eight years. Controversially whistled the national anthem on the podium and swore when receiving the BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize in 1982. Awarded MBE in 1982 and CBE in 2000.

Bobby Joe Morrow (United States) 30pts
born 1935 Harlingen, Texas

Gold 100m 1956; 200m 1956; 4x100m 1956