The individual sprint is a track cycling event held at the Summer Olympics. The event was first held for men at the first modern Olympics in 1896. It was held again in 1900, but not in 1904 when various races at different distances were conducted. The men's sprint returned to the programme in 1908 but was again omitted in 1912, when only road cycling competitions were held. After World War I, the men's sprint returned to the programme for good in 1920 and has been held every Games since. The women's sprint was added when women's track cycling was first held in 1988 and has been held every Games since.
