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2024 Olympic Games
Athletics
Stade de France
Paris, France
1-11 August 2024
Athletics is the cornerstone of the
Olympic Games and all eyes will be on the track and field events at the Stade de France from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 11.
The crown jewel is undoubtedly the 100m sprint which sees audiences captivated by the race to discover who will be the fastest man and woman on the planet.
Italy's Marcell Jacobs is the defending champion in the men's 100m after he set a new European record with a time of 9.80 seconds at Tokyo 2020, becoming the first athlete from Europe to win the gold medal since Linford Christie in 1992.
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah retained her title as the world's fastest woman as she won the 100m in a time of 10.61 seconds to set a new Olympic record to go along with a her victory in the 200m.
Both Jacobs and Thompson-Herah helped their respective countries win gold in the 4 x 100m relay as well.
USA walked away with the most medals in 2020 (7 gold, 12 silver and 7 bronze), while Kenya came third (4 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze) after shining in the long-distance running events.
Emmanuel Korir won the men's 800m ahead of compatriot Ferguson Rotich and Eliud Kipchoge triumphed in the marathon. Faith Kipyegon won the women's 1500m, shattering an Olympic record that had stood for 33 years, with Peres Jepchirchir also taking gold in the marathon.
World Athletics deemed the 2020 Games as the "highest quality major event in history" after three world records, 12 Olympic records, 28 continental (area) records and 151 national records were set.
Jacobs is determined to repeat his remarkable feat of Tokyo 2020 and concluded his Olympic tune-up with victory in the 100m in Rieti on July 14.
"The ultimate goal is Paris, and every race is a crucial step toward this destination. Preparation is a journey made up of steps, and yesterday's race, part of our recent training, was an important milestone," he said in a post on social media platform X.
"We tested over three rounds, focusing not only on times but especially on achieving the perfect form. Each round represented an improvement, helping me unlock more and more of my full potential. With head, heart, commitment, and determination, Paris awaits us!"
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Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kipyegon is seeking a hat-trick of titles after breaking her own 1500m world record at the Paris Diamond League on July 7.
"I look forward to winning again. What I did at weekend (July 7) in Paris shows that I'm ready for the Olympics. I expect bigger things and I pray that I go there injury-free," she told Nation Sport.
"The 1500 race, which is my favourite, is very competitive. One has to make a good calculation to make the final. My prayer is that we (Kenyan athletes) all make the final, and then fight it out from there."
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