Let the Games (Athletics) Begin! Event by Event Preview!

PARIS (FRA): The athletics is here, the number one sport of the Games as we every four years are noting. The biggest sport with nearly 2000 participants from more than 200 countries. We have one new event, mixed relay walk on the marathon course replacing 50 km walk what makes it 48 events. In Tokio 3 World records, in Rio 3 World records were registered with London 4 and before that Beijing: 5, Athens: 2, Sydney: 0 (first games without WR since 1948), Atlanta: 2, also 5 WR in Seoul 1988 and 6 WR in Moscow 1980). In Paris some chances are existing mainly men pole vault or mixed 4×400 m.  Rio 2016 results level was better than London 2012 which was far higher than at previous two Olympics. But now Tokyo is the best from all of them with 197 115 points. Based on World Athletics scoring Rio got 195 953 points ahead of London 195 146 points over Beijing 191 749 and Athens 190 871. World leading mark was achieved 28 times in Tokio, 30 times in London and 17 times in Rio.

PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS

PARIS (FRA): Three years after the 2021 Olympics, there are only 6 Tokyo winners who are missing in Paris. Thompson-Herah (100m/200m) and Rojas due to an injury, Mu failing to qualify at the US Trials, Lasitskene as Russians are not allowed to compete, Liu Shiying and the only man E.Korir due to a lack of form. However Miller-Uibo, officially selected, is unlikely to compete due to lack of form after giving birth and injury, and Hassan (5000m/10,000m) is selected for 4 events but it is still unclear in which she will compete. And there is also Tomala whose discipline (50km race walk) is no longer on the programme of Games, but he is selected as an alternate for the marathon race walk mixed relay.

PARIS (FRA): Up to 23 individual Rio winners were missing in Tokyo. From Rio winners will individually compete 7 women, Faith Kipyegon, Ekaterini Stefanidi, Sandra Perković, Sara Kolak, Nafissatou Thiam, Liu Hong and Miller-Uibo (unclear), and 3 men Eliud Kipchoge, Ryan Crouser, Wayde Van Niekerk (but selected for 200m). There are still 3 women’s London (2012) winners competing in Paris, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce (also Beijing 2008 champion), Sandra Perković and Anita Wlodarczyk, and two men Kirani James and Keshorn Walcott. An absolute specialty is Kenenisa Bekele who is a three-time champion from Beijing and Athens 2004 (now selected for marathon).

MULTIPLE PARTICIPATION

PARIS (FRA): French discus thrower Mélina Robert-Michon is heading for her 7th Olympic appearance and so equals the legendary Merlene Ottey as the best woman. Spanish walker Jesús Ángel García is at the top of this all-time list with 8 Olympic participations.

SHORT EVENT BY EVENT PREVIEW

WOMEN

100m: Richardson aims to end Jamaican (2008-21) win streak, as Jackson finished her last race with an injury and Fraser-Pryce raced only twice this season, or a surprise from Alfred? Jackson is out.

200m: Can Thomas be the name specially after Jackson withdrew from the 100 m? Once-again Alfred and Asher-Smith ready to challenge them.

400m: Paulino dominated last season but Pryce’s London time is changing assumptions, Kaczmarek and Adeleke waiting behind.

800m: Hodgkinson at her best should not lose, Moraa hasn’t shown last year’s form yet, while Sekgodiso could be dangerous. Reekie waits for her chance, World Indoor champion Duguma’s form is not known.

1500m: Kipyegon has confirmed her ambition to win a third Olympic title with her recent world record, can anyone else threaten her? Probably only Hull and Tsegay, if she will actually start, as selected for three disciplines. Haylom, Welteji and Muir behind.

5000m: This will definitely be one of the Games’ highlights, Olympic debut for World champion Kipyegon, Tsegay is the WR holder and Chebet’s form also looks admirable, and do not forget title defender Hassan.

10,000m: Three of 5000m favourites should clash for a victory, with fresh WR holder Chebet looking as the main title contender, and Hassan could repeat last year’s duel from Budapest. Kenyans Rengeruk and Kipkemboi could challenge favourites rather than less-experienced Ethiopians.

Marathon: As usual, Ethiopia versus Kenya clash, WR holder Assefa versus very strong trio of Kosgei, Jepchirchir and Obiri, Hassan, should be the only opposition.

Steeple: B.Chepkoech could win the first Olympic title for Kenya, but was recently defeated by title defender Chemutai, and also Yavi will be against, Constien leads the US squad.

100m H: Very strong and stacked field with title defender Camacho-Quinn and WR holder Amusan, against season leaders and national / European champions Russell, Nugent and Samba-Mayela, in shape Visser and Skrzyszowska. And oh also World indoor champ Charlton.

400m H: Sydney versus Femke, what a clash that could bring an incredible time. Others for bronze, led by Clayton and Cockrell.

HJ: Mahuchikh tries for a gold for her war-struggling country, Olyslagers is behind her and teenager Topić is targeting a medal, but Gerashchenko is another medal contender, while Patterson would need to improve to have a serious chance. Mahuchik in the same city and other stadium promised another improvement some weeks ago or at least an olympic record.

PV: Kennedy looks like a favourite as Moon’s shape is quite volatile, Caudery and an excellent competitor Moser will challenge them.

LJ: Mihambo and Davis-Woodhall should clash for the title, but long jump can be tricky, so Iapichino and de Sousa could attack them, if looking for surprise then watch out Nichols or Moore, while World champion Španović didn’t have enough time to get in shape after her injury.

TJ: The new Olympic champion will be crowned as the queen (Rojas) is injured, which is a completely new situation for all participants. Pérez Hernández and LaFond look like the main contenders for the title, Peleteiro-Compaoré and Bekh-Romanchuk will challenge, while Povea, Ricketts could also play a role.

SP: Should be a duel of Jackson and Mitton, while the shape of rarely competing title defender Gong is not widely known despite her recent 20m attempt, Schilder, Saunders and Ogunleye are also looking for a medal.

DT: Allman is heading to successful title defence, especially if her main competitor this season Pérez does not compete, Feng, van Klinken and two-time champion Elkasević will wait for their chance.

HT: Rogers is a clear favourite, especially if the world leader (Andersen) is missing, the clash for other medals can be very open, there are Echikunwoke, Price, European champion Fantini and do not underestimate the legendary Włodarczyk, best Chinese is Zhao Jie

JT: World champion Kitaguchi and Little are on the top in Olympic predictions, but European champions Hudson will attack them, world leader Ruiz, Vilagoš, Malone-Hardin and Andrejczyk trying for surprise.

HEP: Thiam is challenging her third consecutive Olympic title, while Vetter, Hall and Johnson-Thompson could be close behind.

20km W: Palmisano defends the title and is fresh European champion, García was strong during the season, World champion Pérez is after injury, Ma Zhenxia and legendary Liu Hong lead fast Chinese walkers, Montag is another to watch.

4x100m: Great Britain should challenge the USA, Jamaica is always strong and France can challenge them. Germany or Italy will wait behind.

4x400m: Could be USA (McLaughlin) versus Netherlands (Bol) duel for gold, Jamaica, Great Britain, Poland and Canada for bronze.

MEN

100m: Lyles looks for his first Olympic title, but Jamaica’s sensation Thompson will be against, as will be Lyles’ only defeater this season Seville. Bednarek, Kerley, Tebogo, Simbine and defender Jacobs are the others to watch.

200m: ‘Mandatory’ victory for three-time World champion Lyles, but Bednarek also looks very strong, De Grasse, Knighton and Tebogo behind.

400m: Hudson-Smith and Hall have run great times recently and expected favourite Gardiner has to watch out, what surprises will Doom (if fully healthy) or Dobson have in store? Legend to watch is James.

800m: Sedjati is undefeated this season, can Wanyonyi beat him? Arop not to be underestimated, Tual ready to surprise on home soil.

1500m: Ingebrigtsen is very fast indeed, can he deal with the British nightmare of Kerr this time? Cheruiyot, Nuguse, Hocker and Komen for bronze.

5000m: Can anyone stop Ingebrigtsen from winning a third consecutive global title? Ethiopians, led by Gebrhiwet, look the fastest, Cheptegei is the title defender, but it was Krop who chased Jakob the most in his victories.

10,000m: Hard to anticipate, Kejelcha won the Ethiopian trials, title defender Barega was third, Kenyans, led by Mateiko were fast at Pre Classic, however Cheptegei won both last World Championships, while Kiplimo did not run 10,000m since his bronze in Oregon 2022.

Marathon: It may not be a Kipchoge versus Bekele duel, but can be expected that  the winner to be from Kenya or Ethiopia, squads led by the fastest this year Kipruto, Kiplagat and Geleta respectively, Amdouni and Nageeye are European hopes.

Steeple: Title defender El Bakkali against WR holder Girma, Kenyans led by Serem and Kibiwott waiting for their glory, as will also other Ethiopians. Will they go for Olympic record 8:03.28?

110m H: Nothing but gold for Holloway, who can challenge him? Compatriots Crittenden and Roberts, European champion Simonelli, Broadbell, Parchmentwaiting for their chance.

400m H: Another highlight and clash of titans, Warholm, Benjamin and dos Santos, this could even threaten the WR, James-King, Sibilio, Clarke or McMaster behind.

HJ: This could be quite open as both joint title defenders Barshim and Tamberi did not compete often this season and both struggled with injuries, next to them World Indoor champion Kerr looks like the most serious favourite, McEwen or Woo will be waiting for their chance, while Harrison’s shape is questionable.

PV: Duplantis for gold, the rest of the field for the other medals, Kendricks looks better than Nilsen, Obiena, Karalis and Collett are next to watch. Will Mondo arrive at another set of WR attempts after potentially breaking Olympic record 603.

LJ: Defending champion Tentoglou showed the best shape this season, there are also Europeans Furlani and Ehammer, Jamaicans McLeod, Pinnock and Gayle, but the field is quite even and that could bring a chance also for others, including 2022 World champion Wang.

TJ: World champion Zango, U20WR holder Hibbert and former Cubans in three different jerseys, Pichardo, J.Díaz and A.Díaz, that is a list of favourites.

SP: Crouser used to be the favorite, but Fabbri defeated him recently, so he and Kovacs could take advantage of the two-time champion’s injury-affected preparation, Otterdahl is waiting behind.

DT: Three main favourites, Alekna, Čeh and Ståhl, are meeting often this season, new WR holder booked only one loss, at Euro Champs against Čeh, Swedish defending champion failed to defeat his rivals, and can be challenged by Weisshaidinger, Denny or Gudžius. First 70 in the history of the games?

HT: This used to be a domain of Polish giants Nowicki and Fajdek, but the main favourite is Katzberg, and Halász and Kokhan will attack too.

JT: European champion Vadlejch will challenge Chopra, Weber with them, Peters, Helander and Nadeem waiting behind.

DEC: Neugebauer is targeting his first global title, defending champion Warner will be against, European champion Erm and Owens-Delerme are the other medal hopes, while WR holder Mayer is struggling with injury and his appearance is unclear.

20km W: Title defender Stano, double World champion Martín and European champion Karlström, that is the list of recent champions who will clash for gold. Season leader Ikeda, Zhang, Yamanishi and Bonfim could challenge them. Olympic record possible.

4x100m: USA looks for their first Olympic title since 2000, Jamaica, Canada and well-practiced Italy will challenge. France, Great Britain, Japan or South Africa will wait for surprise.

4x400m: USA is an usual favourite, possibly strengthened by Benjamin (and Lyles?), Botswana, Belgium, Great Britain, South Africa for other medals.

MIXED

Marathon walk relay: The debuting event is scheduled after 20km races, what could impact the final line-up, Italy (Palmisano, Stano) looks almost unbeatable, Spain (with Martín in one of two pairs) is also a title contender, Chinese and Japanese pairs will challenge them, while Australia and Colombia also have two pairs competing. Here no official world record is registered, but all-time  best could be achieved

4x400m: If at full strength, USA should win, Netherlands and Great Britain could challenge, while Ireland, Dominican Republic, Poland and Nigeria behind. WR as usual possible in 2nd edition at the games.