LET THE GAMES (ATHLETICS) BEGIN
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…
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