The Stade de France in Paris (© Mattia Ozbot)
Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympics got under way on Thursday (1) with two thrilling 20km race walk events against the stunning backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.
Action continues on Friday (2) with the first in-stadium session of the Games, and there’s lots to look forward to.
First track title decided
The first day of in-stadium athletics action will reach a thrilling crescendo with the first track final of the Games: the men’s 10,000m.
Selemon Barega wins the 10,000m at the Tokyo Olympic Games (© Dan Vernon)
Two-time world champion Joshua Cheptegei will be vying for his first Olympic title over the distance, but defending champion Selemon Barega is one of three strong Ethiopians in the line-up, alongside Yomif Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi.
Cheptegei’s teammate Jacob Kiplimo is also one to watch, as is USA’s Grant Fisher.
Clash of the sprint queens
Both ends of the distance spectrum will feature on the Stade de France track on Friday, as the women’s 100m gets under way during the morning session.
The event will be without two-time double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah and her Jamaican teammate Shericka Jackson, but there’s no shortage of big personalities as world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and seven-time global 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will begin their Games campaign.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics (© Getty Images)
Both women are featured in the recent Netflix docuseries SPRINT, and they'll potentially clash twice at these Games: first in the 100m and then again in the 4x100m next week.
World’s best all-round athletes go into battle
The most gruelling contest on the Olympic athletics programme – the men’s decathlon – kicks off the in-stadium action in Paris with five of the 10 disciplines being contested throughout the day.
Olympic decathlon champion Damian Warner in Tokyo (© Getty Images)
Defending champion Damian Warner is a strong contender, as is world leader Leo Neugebauer of Germany.
Robert-Michon makes Olympic appearance No.7
History will be made during the evening session on Friday when Melina Robert-Michon of France takes to the circle for the women's discus qualifying.
The 45-year-old – who earned Olympic silver in 2016 – will be competing at her seventh Olympics, tying the record number of appearances at the Games by a woman in athletics.
Melina Robert-Michon after taking silver in the discus at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (© Getty Images)
Twelve women will advance to the final, and Robert-Michon is ranked 21st among the 32 entrants, but the thousands of French athletes in the stadium could lift Robert-Michon’s performance levels as she bids to make her 12th global final.
Four global champions get multi-medal campaigns under way
The heats of the women’s 5000m on Friday evening will be the first race of many for four global champions who are doubling – and even tripling – up in Paris.
Sifan Hassan wins the 10,000m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (© Getty Images)
World 1500m and 5000m champion Faith Kipyegon, Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan, world 10,000m champion Gudaf Tsegay and world cross-country and 5km champion Beatrice Chebet will all take to the startline for the 5000m heats, aiming to qualify for the final on Monday (5).
All four will then switch their focus to other disciplines. Kipyegon is also entered for the 1500m, while her Kenyan teammate Chebet is also taking on the 10,000m. Tsegay will be taking on two other disciplines (1500m and 10,000m), as will Hassan (10,000m and marathon).
Access the timetable, results and fan games from our Inside Track fan zone
