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It’s unbelievable to assume that for the primary time since Athens 2004, a brand new Olympic 100m and 200m males’s champion will stand on high of the rostrum in Tokyo 2020.
Usain Bolt dominated the game up till Rio 2016, choosing up three Olympic titles at his final two Video games (together with the 4x100m relay) and two in Beijing – though a 3rd was stripped from him when Jamaican relay team-mate Nesta Carter was retrospectively given a doping ban.
Wanting again – and forward to Japan – it’s putting simply how a lot the game misses the good man. Over the previous few years, monitor and subject has looked for an athlete to fill the sizeable footwear, however no-one actually has.
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Christian Coleman had his likelihood, till the was banned for lacking three medication checks, which means the 100m world champion is not going to be on the startline both. Nobody seems to be more likely to come near Bolt’s world data, however who’re the contenders to win these blue ribband occasions in Tokyo? Honorable mentions to the likes of Xie Zhenye and Akani Simbine, however Eurosport has picked out a range.
Noah Lyles
Noah Lyles
Picture credit score: Getty Photos
The plain contender, given he’s the one present world champion on this record. The 23-year-old American continues to be younger sufficient to be a real contender to turn out to be a world star and he actually began that path by profitable the 200m at Doha 2019.
We have to set a fast caveat – no-one actually is aware of the place each athlete’s type is at given the shortage of worldwide competitors over the previous yr.
However Lyles has began the season in strong trend with a reasonably unspectacular 10.08 within the 100m and a way more spectacular 19.90 within the 200m – although that’s nonetheless a way wanting his PB of 19.50 set two years in the past. He has received earlier than, and that have may very well be essential
Justin Gatlin
Justin Gatlin
Picture credit score: Eurosport
The previous timer at 39 and a sprinter who divides opinion greater than another. Having served two drug bans, the American was roundly booed when he competed on the 2017 World Championships in London.
His expertise may give him an edge over his opponents and he continues to run quick – already going sub-10 seconds with 9.98 at a meet in April.
Gatlin took half within the Prepared Regular Tokyo check occasion just lately, so he already has the sting over his rivals having skilled ‘bubble life’ in Japan. Don’t rule him out.
Andre De Grasse
Andre De Grasse
Picture credit score: Getty Photos
The Canadian was one of many quickest on the earth final yr with 9.97, although it was clearly a reasonably small pattern measurement given how badly the athletics calendar was affected by Covid-19 in 2020.
De Grasse was some of the constant performers at Rio 2016, coming away with 100m and relay bronze, in addition to 200m silver. His file was nearly equivalent on the worlds in 2019.
His private finest occasions are good however not sensational, nevertheless, this may very well be the possibility for De Grasse to take centre stage.
Trayvon Bromell
Trayvon Bromell
Picture credit score: Getty Photos
Not heard of this man? He’s solely the quickest man on the earth this yr with 9.88 – having been second quickest final yr with 9.90.
Bromell is a former teen star, a junior world file holder and the primary junior to run sub-10 seconds within the 100m, however since Rio he has been badly hit by accidents and over the previous few years he has been increase his comeback.
Given his type, Bromell may even be the favorite for gold, although these are nonetheless early days within the season in fact. The 25-year-old is more likely to specialise within the 100m and relay in Tokyo,
Zharnel Hughes
Zharnel Hughes
Picture credit score: Getty Photos
We needed to embrace a British athlete, proper?! We almost went for Adam Gemili, and he’s actually a contender, however Hughes is right here on advantage and has the advantage of being beneath the tutelage of Bolt’s former coach, Glen Mills.
Hughes is the European 100m champion and a part of the British 4x100m relay which claimed silver in Doha.
He’s arguably a lot stronger over 200m and he has regarded in respectable form thus far, clocking a wind assisted 19.93 in Miami final month. It is likely to be an excessive amount of to count on him to win gold, however he’s positively a medal contender.
Yoshihide Kiryu
Yoshihide Kiryu
Picture credit score: Getty Photos
The romantic alternative – what possibilities do we’ve got of seeing a house champion in Tokyo? Not that dangerous, really. Kiryu is the Asian Video games champion and has claimed relay medals on the Olympics and World Championships.
Once more, we’re early within the season and athletes are solely now beginning to ramp up their aggressive motion, and Kiryu has thus far posted a modest 10.30 in Japan final month.
However his PBs are much better – he can run 9.98 over 100m and with no abroad spectators in a position to attend Tokyo 2020, the complete stadium might be rooting for him and him alone.
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