Five things to look forward to at the Paris Olympics on Saturday 10 August

The final day of in-stadium track and field action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is nearly upon us.

Fittingly, it’s a day with a bit of everything: sprints, hurdles, middle-distance, jumps, throws and roads. There’s something for everyone as nine more titles are decided on Saturday 10 August.

 

The long and winding road

History beckons for defending champion Eliud Kipchoge in the men’s marathon. In Tokyo three years ago, the Kenyan legend joined Abebe Bikila and Waldemar Cierpinski as the only men to win back-to-back titles in an Olympic marathon. He now aims to become the first man to win three golds in the 26.2 mile event.

The 39-year-old hasn’t the smoothest of years, though, as he finished a distant 10th at the Tokyo Marathon in March in a race won by Benson Kipruto in a world-leading 2:02:16. Kipruto will be on the startline on Saturday morning, so too will Kipchoge’s old track rival Kenenisa Bekele, along with a whole host of other contenders.

If the heat doesn’t pose a challenge, then the hilly course definitely will. It has the makings of an epic race.

 

Kipyegon targets trio of track titles

Like teammate Kipchoge, Kenyan 1500m runner Faith Kipyegon is targeting a third successive Olympic gold medal here in Paris. Should she succeed in her quest, she’d become the first woman to win three Olympic titles in a single track discipline.

But the world champion and world record-holder faces a field that includes Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, her teammate Diribe Welteji, Australia’s Jess Hull and Britain’s Laura Muir.

After being beaten into silver in the 5000m, Kipyegon will be keen to return to winning ways in her preferred distance.

 

Sprint hurdles showdown

It has been one of the highest quality and most competitive athletics disciplines in recent years, so everything points to a thrilling contest in the women’s 100m hurdles final.

Such is the quality of the event, two-time world champion Danielle Williams and world record-holder Tobi Amusan did not make the final. Defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn will be on the startline, though, along with US trio Alaysha Johnson, Grace Stark and Masai Russell.

World indoor champion Devynne Charlton and European champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela are also ones to watch.

 

Barshim vs Tamberi take two

Lots of questions remain unanswered leading into the men’s high jump final – mainly surrounding the form of defending co-champions Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim.

Tamberi won the European title earlier this year with a world-leading 2.37m, but then picked up an injury that threatened his participation at the Games. The Italian managed to recover in time and made it through the qualifying round, but he may not be at his absolute best.

Barshim, who has also had a relatively quiet year, looked to be out of it in qualifying after suffering with cramp, but he managed to get over 2.27m to advance to the final.

Both men are proven championship performers, so can never be written off. But Hamish Kerr and Woo Sanghyeok, the winners of the past two world indoor titles, will pose a threat.

 

Curtains close with relays

The in-stadium track and field programme will, as is tradition, end with the 4x400m finals.

Two races, eight laps, 64 athletes and six medals on offer between the men’s and women’s 4x400m finals. The USA will start as favourite to successfully defend their titles in the two races, but a lot can happen in relays.

Botswana impressed in the heats of the men’s event, clocking 2:57.76, the fastest time of the day. Great Britain, USA, Japan, France and Belgium also finished inside 3:00 to advance to the final. USA led the way in the women’s event, meanwhile, clocking 3:21.44. Little more than a second separated the next seven qualifiers for the final, with Jamaica, Netherlands and Great Britain expected to battle it out for the medals.

 

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