Raising the bar
Swedish star Mondo Duplantis is in Paris seeking a second Olympic gold and, perhaps, another world record in the men’s pole vault.
The 24-year-old has won the past five global pole vault titles, following his Olympic win in Tokyo with two world indoor and two world outdoor victories. On each occasion, he either achieved or attempted a world record.
The man who improved the world record for an eighth time when clearing 6.24m at the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen in April looked sublime in qualification, soaring well clear at 5.60m and 5.75m to secure his spot in the final. There he’ll be joined by athletes including Philippines’ world silver medallist Ernest John Obiena, USA’s two-time world champion Sam Kendricks and their fellow six metre vaulter Sondre Guttormsen of Norway.
Two lap clash
After three silver medals, Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson goes for a first global gold in the women’s 800m.
The 22-year-old was second to Athing Mu at the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 World Championships, and finished runner up to Mary Moraa at last year’s World Championships.
Hodgkinson and Moraa will race again, but Mu fell at the US Trials and missed out on selection, meaning she isn’t defending her title in Paris. Hodgkinson is undefeated this year, but competition is set to be fierce. In the first round, four athletes beat the previous fastest ever Olympic women’s 800m heat time of 1:58.38 – led by world indoor champion Tsige Duguma with 1:57.90.
Allman defends, Robert-Michon makes history
“I’m really optimistic about the magic that can happen in Paris,” said Valarie Allman after her win at the US Olympic Team Trials. She defends her title in the women’s discus and does so unbeaten this year.
As well as her trials triumph, Allman’s wins this year include those at the Diamond League meetings in Xiamen, Eugene and Paris, and her season’s best is 70.89m.
Also looking to add to their major medal haul are Croatia’s Sandra Elkasevic, on the hunt for a threepeat after her Olympic wins in 2012 and 2016, and China’s 2022 world gold medallist Feng Bin.
France’s 2016 Olympic silver medallist Melina Robert-Michon is competing in her seventh Olympics, matching the record number of appearances for a woman in track and field.
Fierce 5000m
Sifan Hassan and Gudaf Tsegay are set to target a treble in Paris, while Faith Kipyegon is on the hunt for a golden double, and the first of their finals is the women’s 5000m.
Dutch star Hassan defends her Olympic titles in the 5000m and 10,000m and is adding the marathon to her schedule in Paris. Ethiopia’s Tsegay is a world gold medallist in the 5000m and 10,000m and is also entered for the 1500m in Paris, while double world champion Kipyegon of Kenya will look to replicate her 1500m and 5000m title wins from Budapest.
Joining them are Kenya’s two-time world medallist Beatrice Chebet, Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa and Ejgayehu Taye, and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti.
Competition heats up
There’s a range of 200m competition on Monday, as the repechage round and semifinals are held in the women’s event and the heats take place in the men’s event.
Among those in action are 100m champion Julien Alfred, world leader Gabby Thomas, defending champion Andre De Grasse and world champion Noah Lyles.
Source: worldathletics.org
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