What events could stand out in Paris?

What events could stand out in Paris? by Olivia Miller

I asked Olivia Miller, our summer intern, to give me a few events she feels would stand out. I missed the column and am posting it now (August 4) because so many are timely, and it also shows how things change.

Men’s shot put: A historic three-peat?

The men’s shot put final has the potential to be a historic event. Ryan Crouser, who holds Olympic and world records, is looking for Olympic gold.

Despite struggling with several injuries this season, including a torn pectoral muscle and elbow injury, Crouser, a two-time gold medalist, would make history as the first man to win three golds with a first-place finish in Paris.

Other contenders include Joe Kovacs and Leonardo Fabbri. Kovacs, who has the current world-leading distance (23.13), won silver in Rio and Tokyo and will be chasing an elusive gold medal in Paris. Fabbri just came off a win at the European Championships in June and has a personal best of 22.95, which he earned in May.

Can Crouser repeat gold, or will we see a new Olympic champion?

Editor’s note: Olivia was right; Ryan Crouse won his third Olympic gold medal, and Joe Kovacs won his third Olympic silver medal. 

Women’s 400m hurdles: Another world record? 

The women’s 400m hurdles may be among the most highly anticipated events. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone seems unstoppable. She broke her world record in the U.S. Olympic Trials, clocking 50.65 to surpass her record of 50.67. The 24-year-old has focused exclusively on the 400m hurdles this season, opting out of the 200m and 400m.

The only other athlete who has come close to McLaughlin-Levrone is Femke Bol. The Tokyo bronze medalist recently ran a 51.30 at the London Diamond League. The two last raced against each other in the 2022 World Championships, where McLaughlin-Levrone took gold with 50.68, and Bol took silver with 52.27.

This matchup has the potential to produce another world record.

Editor’s note: The 400m hurdle final is August 9, 2024. 

Women’s 800m: A new Olympic champion will be crowned

The women’s 800m looks a little different this year. After falling at the U.S. Olympic trials, previous Olympic champion Athing Mu cannot defend her title.

Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson is coming off a personal best of 1:54.61, which she ran at the London Diamond League. Hodgkinson is no stranger to the Olympic podium. She took silver in Tokyo and will be looking for more in Paris.

Jemma Reekie, who will also be representing Great Britain in Paris, ran a personal best in that same Diamond League race, coming in second with 1:55.61. Reekie just missed the podium in Tokyo, finishing fourth in 2020.

You can never forget Mary Moraa. The 2023 World champion, who has a season’s best of 1:56.71, is looking for redemption in Paris after failing to make it past the semifinals in Tokyo.

Editor’s note: Jemma Reekie is out; the final is August 5, 2024. 

Women’s 200m: Can Gabby Thomas Win Gold?

Gabby Thomas wowed at the London Diamond League just weeks ago, charging from fourth to first place to win the women’s 200m with a time of 21.82, her second fastest of the year.

She will compete against Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, who recently dropped out of the 100m. Jackson won world titles in the 2022 and 2023 world championships and has the second-fastest time ever run by a woman in the 200m, clocking in at 21.41. The only faster time was run by Florence Griffith-Joyner (21.34).

Other contenders include Americans McKenzie Long (SB 21.83), Brittany Brown (SB 21.90), and St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred (SB 21.86).

Thomas, however, has dominated the 200m this season. She holds the year’s fastest time of 21.78 and the top three fastest times run in 2024. Will she finally win gold?

Editor’s note: Shericka Jackson is out, Gabby Thomas is flying, and Julien Alred is the 100-meter champion and looking good. The final is August 6, 2024. 

Men’s 1500m: The rivalry between  Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr

The upcoming men’s 1500m event will feature a matchup between two Olympic medalists, Josh Kerr of Great Britain and Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway. Their rivalry has intensified since Tokyo, where Ingebrigtsen claimed gold and Kerr bronze. Ingebrigtsen will defend his Olympic title against Kerr, who won the World Championships in 2023.

The last time these two competed against each other was at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic, where Kerr came in first (3:45.34) with Ingebrigtsen in second (3:45.60).

Ingebrigtsen will enter the Olympics having just set a personal best on July 12 in Monaco, running 3:26.74. He currently holds the world-leading time.

Editor’s note: In the semi-finals, Olivia is right. Kerr and Ingebrigtsen’s final is August 6, 2024.