A heat is one of the earliest events where numerous individuals participate and attempt to qualify for subsequent events. It commonly occurs in various sports, such as track and field, swimming, rowing, and motorsports, which attract many competitors.
Organizers divide athletes into groups named heats to ensure that each race is safe and simple to manage. An athlete’s performance in a heat—by place or time—determines who advances to the semifinals, finals, or medal rounds. Athletes must balance: they must go fast enough to advance without expending all their energy too early. Heats ensure the contest remains fair by seeding athletes according to their previous times or rankings. This minimizes the impact of varying conditions (such as lane draws, wind, and water currents) and gives each competitor a clear opportunity to advance in the event.
