Five things to look forward to at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday 6 August

Tuesday 6 August marks the half-way stage of the athletics programme at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but expect no half measures during a packed evening session where five more champions will be crowned.

 

Two global champions clash

Ever since Britain’s Josh Kerr beat Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen to the men's 1500m world title in Budapest last year, their rematch in Paris has been one of the most talked-about disciplines in the lead-up to the Games.

Both men have looked incredibly easy through the rounds, giving very little away ahead of the final. Ingebrigtsen will be incredibly keen to hold on to the title he won in Tokyo three years ago, but he’ll be haunted by the memories of being beaten at the past two World Championships.

Along with Kerr and Ingebrigtsen, look out for USA’s Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse.

 

Alfred goes for the double

Having made history by becoming St Lucia’s first ever Olympic medallist, 100m champion Julien Alfred will be aiming to double her country’s all-time medal tally in the 200m.

USA’s Gabby Thomas, meanwhile, will be a huge threat. She clocked a world-leading 21.78 to win the US title in June, and she backed that up with the fastest time in the first round here in Paris, running 22.20.

USA’s Brittany Brown, Nigeria’s Favour Ofili and British duo Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita are also ones to watch.

 

 

Rogers aims to follow in Katzberg’s footsteps

Canada claimed the men’s and women’s hammer titles at the World Championships in Budapest last year, and they’re on course to accomplish the same her in Paris following Ethan Katzberg’s win in the men’s event on Sunday (4).

World champion Camryn Rogers is the top performer this year of all the entrants and the Canadian will start as one of the favourites. USA’s 2019 world champion DeAnna Price and US champion Annette Echikunwoke should also be in the medal hunt as they all look to secure North America’s first ever Olympic medal(s) in the women’s hammer.

Krista Tervo made a statement in qualifying with her Finnish record of 74.79m. And, of course, never write off three-time Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk.

 

Tentoglou targets another title

Wlodarczyk won’t be the only multiple gold medallist lining up in Paris on Tuesday. Miltiadis Tentoglou – the world, Olympic and European champion – will be vying for yet another gold medal in the men's long jump.

The Greek athlete led the qualifying round with 8.32m and will start as the favourite. Rising Italian jumper Mattia Furlani took silver behind Tentoglou at the recent European Championships and will be a threat once again here in Paris.

It would be a surprise if Jamaican duo Carey McLeod and Wayne Pinnock didn’t feature in the medal hunt.

 

Chemutai back in title-winning form

Peruth Chemutai will be one of four defending champions in action on Tuesday. Troubled by injuries, the Ugandan had struggled in recent years to achieve consistency and build on the surprise gold she won in the women's steeplechase in Tokyo three years ago. But she clocked a world-leading 8:55.09 in May, then ran an extremely comfortable 9:10.51 to win her heat here in Paris.

World champion Winfred Yavi and world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech are both capable of contending for gold. The thousands of home supporters, meanwhile, will be cheering for European champion Alice Finot of France. If she is anywhere near the front in the closing stages, the atmosphere in Stade de France will once again be electric.

 

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