Forum Discussion
Data from a web page - error is "Access to the resource is forbidden."
Tried the work arounds and still won't work.
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/663320/results/m/2/100m
I checked the link you provided:
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/663320/results/m/2/100m
The server is returning a 403 Forbidden error. Importantly, this is the website actively refusing the request — it is not an Excel or Power Query limitation.
Key nuance (based on how Athletic.net behaves)
A 403 on this site often does not mean the page is private or requires login.
More commonly, it means:
- You are accessing a deep link directly, without the necessary navigation context (e.g., visiting the main meet page first).
- The server expects a specific referer header, session state, or cookies from normal browsing.
- The endpoint blocks direct/automated requests but works fine when reached interactively.
What to try next (in order)…
1. Test in a normal browser starting from the main meet page
- Go to the main meet page (e.g., https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/663320)
- Navigate to results → men → 100m from there.
- If that works, the deep link itself is valid but requires context. Power Query cannot replicate that browsing flow.
2. If it loads only in a browser but not in Power Query
- The site is likely blocking non-browser requests (bot protection, missing headers, session checks).
- There is no reliable workaround from Excel directly.
3. Check for built-in export options
- On the main meet results page (loaded normally), look for a CSV, Excel, or Print button.
- Athletic.net does not provide a stable public API for scraping, but occasional UI exports exist.
4. If it never loads at all — even when navigating normally
- The link may be restricted, temporary, or invalid. Consider contacting Athletic.net support.
Bottom line…
A 403 here means “you can’t access it this way” — not necessarily “you can’t access it.”
If the data loads when you navigate normally, it’s accessible but not automation-friendly.
If it never loads, the resource is likely blocked or broken.