In track and field, wind assistance is the benefit that an athlete receives during a race or event as registered by a wind gauge. Wind is one of many forms of weather that can affect sport. Tailwinds are denoted as positive (+) values, while headwinds are denoted as negative (−) values.
Due to a tailwind helping to enhance the speed of the athlete in events like certain sprint races (100 and 200 metres), 100/110 metres hurdles, the triple jump and the long jump, there is a limit to how much wind assistance the athlete may compete under if the performance is to establish a record. If a tail wind exceeds 2 metres per second (3.9 kn) the result cannot be registered as a record on any level. However, the results within that competition are still valid because all athletes in said race would receive similar assistance, and in field events it is just random circumstance at the moment of the attempt. The wind assistance maximums are only in regard to the validation of a record.
