The race is on! Athletics begins today

Starting today, athletics is in the spotlight in Tokyo. After more than a decade of dominance by a certain Jamaican superstar, new faces will look to prove themselves in the most anticipated events of the Games

100M, MEN

TRAYVON BROMELL

UNITED STATES

The time has come for the world to welcome a new Olympic men’s 100m champion – possibly the crowning glory of any Games. After run of dominance by Usain Bolt in the last three Olympics, the event will see close competition once again. The favourite for the throne is Trayvon Bromell, who ran a blistering time of 9.77s in Florida last month, putting the world on notice that he is the man to beat. Bromell had a horror of a Games in Rio in 2016 finishing 8th in the 100m and was carried off the track after he tore his Achilles in the 4x100m relay. His win at the US trials in 9.80s shows that he is right on song this time and is the favourite as America hunt gold for the first time since Justin Gatlin won in 2004. MARATHON, MEN

ELIUD KIPCHOGE KENYA

Defending the marathon gold is Eliud Kipchoge, who became the first human to run it under two hours during an unofficial race. But Kipchoge will be up against a bigger opponent this time – history. Only 2 men have ever defended an Olympic gold.

2:01:39

Kipchoge’s official world record set in 2018; his time of 1:59:40 set last year was at an unofficial race

100M, WOMEN SHELLY-ANN FRASER-PRYCE

(JAMAICA)

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is the fastest woman alive and will be itching to be the fastest in Tokyo. The signs are there – she clocked the 2nd quickest 100m after the late Florence Griffith-Joyner when she ran 10.63s in Jamaica last month. That is still off the long-standing record of 10.49s. But Fraser-Pryce, the Beijing and London 100m champion, will have a point to prove after settling for bronze in Rio.

400M, WOMEN ALLYSON FELIX (UNITED STATES)

Felix is already part of history as the only female sprinter to win 6 Olympic golds. She will hunt for some more medals in the 400m and 4x400m relay, and can look to cash in on the open field as many stars are missing: Reigning champ Salwa Eid Naser (BAH) is banned, and Namibian teens Mboma & Masilingi have withdrawn. 49.26 Allyson Felix’s personal best can put her in the running for gold in 400m

10,000M, MEN JOSHUA CHEPTEGEI

UGANDA

First day, first medal race, first world record holder in action. Joshua Cheptegei broke the 10,000m record set by Kenenisa Bekele 15 years ago in Oct. The Ugandan finished sixth in the event at the

Rio Games, and will be gunning for gold.

26:11.00

Joshua Cheptegei’s world record time set last year 400M HURDLES, MEN

KARSTEN WARHOLM NORWAY

How’s this for an Olympics build-up: Karsten Warholm wiped off Kevin Young's 29-yr-old record with a time of 46.70s in Oslo on July 1. Every single year since 2019, the 25-year-old Norwegian has improved upon his personal best, making him the red-hot favourite for the gold.

46.70

Karsten Warholm clocked the fastest time in the event’s history earlier this month