Day 146: 31 July
Shericka Jackson believes that everything happens for a reason. On 2 August last year – when she missed the Olympic 200m semifinals by just four thousandths of a second – she might not have known what that reason was.
She does now.
Celebrating with her fellow medallists as she took her place at the centre of the press conference table for the first time in an individual international event, Jackson paused for a moment to reflect.
“No, I’ll not cry,” said the 200m champion, fresh from her record-breaking 21.45 run at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 on Thursday (21). “It taught me so much, that year. That I didn’t make it in my favourite event.
Day 145: 30 July
Last week Australia’s oldest ever Commonwealth Games athlete Enid Pate (nee Evans) passed away at the age of 102 years. The 1938 Sydney Empire Games athlete lived longer than any Australian Olympian or Commonwealth Games athlete has.
Born on the 4 July 1919, Enid Evans commenced high school at Sydney Girls’ High in 1932, the year NSW Women’s Amateur Athletics Association was formed. Prior to this, athletics for women was primarily only available at annual fairs and business houses picnic days and the athletes ran for the large departments stores who employed them - Anthony Horderns, Farmer, Winns etc.
Although only 12, Evans was keen to run in the senior age events at high school.
Day 144: 29 July
"When I was eight, my brother had just started doing athletics and it looked like a lot of fun. My dad would always bring me along to training, so one day I decided to give it a try myself," writes Femke Bol.
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"Now, if you told that same eight-year-old girl that she’d become an Olympian in her first two years of hurdling, she wouldn’t have believed it.
"Honestly, I’m still in awe about it now."
Day 143: 28 July
The latest in an occasional series profiling European Athletics Young Leaders features a Question-and-Answer session with Latvia’s Rebeka Ozolniece.
Ozolniece, 22, is one of the youngest head of communications working in a European Athletics Member Federation.
She was the Latvian representative at the European Athletics Young Leaders Forum held in Munich during the European Athletics Championships in August.
Day 142: 27 July
From Viktoria Brown to Regan Yee, Canadian Running magazine has profiled some of the nation’s top athletes from the past 12 months.
“In the past year, our Canadian women have stood on the top of podiums, shattered records and inspired the nation,” wrote Brittany Hambleton.
Day 141: 26 July
The Boston Athletic Association has announced a team of eight women for the 126th Boston Marathon in April, when they will take part in honour of the original eight finishers from the first official women’s field in 1972.
Each of the team members has made a powerful impact in areas from athletics to human rights. Among them is Valerie Rogosheske, one of the original eight finishers in 1972, who returns 50 years later. She will be joined by Mary Ngugi, Manuela Schar and Melissa Stockwell – who will be competing at the front of the field as part of the John Hancock Professional Athlete Team – as well as football stars Kristine Lilly and Sarah Fuller, Guinness world record-holding marathon runner Jocelyn Rivas and running activist Verna Volker.
Day 140: 25 July
Karmen Bruus breathes as she stands on Hayward Field’s long jump runway. She’s about to attempt her second jump at the height of 1.96m, which will match the Estonian record and the world U18 best.
It’s a measurement that she has yet to scale, not even in training. On a stage she is competing at for the first time — the World Athletics Championships.
Yet, nerves are the last thing on the 17-year-old’s mind as she begins her run up. She speeds up as she approaches the high jump bar, takes off from her right foot and glides over it.
After clearing the bar, Bruus sat on the high jump cushion with her hands on her head.
“I was shocked about what I just did,” Bruus said.
Day 139: 24 July
The fastest woman on Earth.
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) March 8, 2022
At Tokyo 2020, Elaine Thompson-Herah shook the world quicker than you could blink. She was crowned champion in every event in which she participated, taking home three gold medals. #IWD2022 | #BelieveitBeit | @fastelaine
Day 138: 23 July
Dnes je to přesně 45 let, kdy vytvořila koulařka Helena Fibingerová dosud platný světový rekord.
Halový světový rekord Heleny Fibingerové patří vůbec k těm nejstarším a zdá se být v nejbližších letech nepřekonatelný. Halová sezóna 1977 byla pro naši atletickou legendu vskutku výjimečná a v jejím průběhu hned několikrát překonala historické světové maximu. Toho současného dosáhla 19. února 1977 v jablonecké hale. Tehdy poslala hned v první sérii své náčiní do vzdálenosti 22.50 a stala se vůbec první koulařkou, která dokázala pokořit hranici dvaadvaceti metrů. Vlastní dva týdny starý rekordní zápis z Budapešti posunula o neuvěřitelných 84 centimetrů. „Na takový pokus jsem čekala dva roky. Věděla jsem, že mám formu a jakmile mi koule vylétla z ruky, bylo mi jasné, že můj sen se splnil,“ nechala se slyšet tehdy těsně po vydařeném závodě.
Day 137: 22 July
This year’s World Athletics Championships Oregon22 was an event of firsts.
It was the first time the championships had taken place in the USA, there were staggering world records by Mondo Duplantis in the pole vault and Sydney McLaughlin in the 400m hurdles, medal sweeps in both the men’s and women’s 100m and an unprecedented fifth successive gold in the men’s hammer by Pawel Fajdek of Poland.
But perhaps it was the women’s hammer that saw the most significant first – potentially marking a new era for the event.
It was the first time no European athlete made the podium, with North American athletes taking gold, silver and bronze, signifying a changing of the guard with a new continent as the dominant force.
Day 136: 21 July
Ximena Restrepo continues to make history, 30 years on from her third-place finish in the 400m at the Barcelona Games to become the first Colombian woman to win an Olympic medal in any sport. Elected the first woman Vice President of World Athletics in 2019, she spoke with El País about striving to make such achievements the norm.
Day 135: 20 July
As the sun set on a quiet Friday night at Narrabeen, Anneliese Rubie-Renshaw’s career came full circle. After countless laps in stadiums around the world, she laced up her spikes and closed the chapter right where it began.
A staple on Australian teams for over a decade, Rubie-Renshaw steps away from the track after an accomplished career headlined by two Olympic Games, three World Athletics Championships, and two Commonwealth Games – developing a unique skillset to apply to life after athletics.
“There have been so many amazing lessons and so much character building. I have always said that I am who I am today because of the sport and every experience that has shaped me, whether that be at a grassroots, elite, or community level,” Rubie-Renshaw said.
Day 134: 19 July
Six athletes, with 31 titles and over a decade of magnificent moments between them – for International Women’s Day the Wanda Diamond League profiled some of the series’ all-time greats.
Shot put star Valerie Adams, jumps ace Caterine Ibarguen and discus champion Sandra Perkovic each have six series wins, while Barbora Spotakova has secured five in the javelin, Allyson Felix four in the 200m and 400m, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce four in the 100m and 200m. They also have a whole host of meeting records to their names.
Day 133: 18 July
When she missed out on a home team place for the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, Chari Hawkins remembers thinking: “everything happens for a reason”. Instead of that setback marking the end of her Oregon journey, it turned out to be just the start.
Hawkins is multi-talented. She is an international heptathlete and the 2022 US indoor pentathlon champion, after all. But the 31-year-old is also a social media star and has a passion for teaching, and she was able to bring all of those skills together as host of the World Athletics Club.
Day 132: 17 July
Nuestra compatriota y actual recordista nacional en salto triple Ana Paula Arguello se estará presentando en el Mundial de Atletismo U20 que se realiza en Cali, Colombia, este viernes a partir de las 10:30 hs de nuestro país.
Tuvimos la oportunidad de charlar con Ana Paula sobre cómo fue su preparación para este mundial y como se siente para la competencia, “Me siento bastante bien, ya probamos la pista ya entrenamos en ella, me toca competir el viernes así que cada vez falta menos. La preparación que tuve para el mundial fue buena, es uno de los procesos que tenemos, ya que la prioridad es Asu 2022 que será en casa.”
Day 131: 16 July
The fourth edition of the World Athletics Championships coach series of the gender leadership podcast stars Olympian and GB & NI coach Laura Turner-Alleyne.
Former sprinter Turner-Alleyne competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing as well as at four editions of the World Athletics Championships, the World Indoor Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games, winning 4x100m gold in Delhi in 2010.
She began coaching in 2014, shortly after retiring from competing, and co-founded the West London Track & Field Club alongside pole vault coach Ellie Kormis. Alongside her club coaching, Turner-Alleyne is also a team coach for various GB squads and has been involved with guiding the future of British track and field with the British Athletics Futures Academy since 2018.
Day 130: 15 July
Lebanese athlete, journalist, designer and illustrator Christel Saneh has spoken about using her creativity to inspire the next generation, as part of the IOC Young Leaders programme.
Launched in 2016, the programme is designed to empower young leaders to use the power of sport to make a positive difference in their communities.
Day 129: 14 July
In another coup for Australian athletics, more than 100 National Technical Officials and Sport Specific Volunteers have been appointed in key roles for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23, with Athletics Australia and World Athletics confirming selections today.
Alongside eight international technical officials, the Australian cohort handpicked for WXC Bathurst 2023 will provide the highest possible standard of competition for up to 500 elite athletes and 2000 recreational runners set to battle it out on the gruelling Mount Panorama course in Bathurst in February.
Day 128: 13 July
Vielfältig talentiert und erfolgreich. So lässt sich das Sportlerleben von Ingrid Mickler-Becker vermutlich am besten zusammenfassen. 1968 wurde sie in Mexiko-City Olympiasiegerin im Fünfkampf, vier Jahre später holte sie mit der Sprintstaffel Gold in München. Dazwischen lagen 1971 die EM-Siege im Weitsprung sowie mit der 4x100-Meter-Staffel. Und auch im Hochsprung nahm sie an Olympischen Spielen (Platz neun 1960) teil. Bei den Spielen 1972 stellte sie zusammen mit Christiane Krause, Annegret Richter und Heide Rosendahl in 41,81 Sekunden zudem einen 4x100-Meter-Weltrekord auf.
Am Montag (26. September) feiert die Sportlerin der Jahre 1968 und 1971 nun ihren 80. Geburtstag. „Ich fühle mich nicht wie 80. Das Leben hat es gut mit mir gemeint. Ich kann noch alles machen, was ich will. Ich habe scheinbar einiges richtig gemacht, ohne es zu wissen“, sagte die leidenschaftliche Golfspielerin anlässlich ihres Geburtstages der “Berliner Morgenpost“.
Day 127: 12 July
In a #WeGrowAthletics special, Olympic pole vault medallists Katie Nageotte and Holly Bradshaw joined host Michelle Sammet on Twitter Spaces to talk Tokyo, friendship, mental health and how they grow athletics.
Day 126: 11 July
Dame Valerie Adams has announced her retirement, following a legendary shot put career that includes two Olympic gold medals and eight world title wins.
The New Zealand star shared her decision to hang up her throwing shoes at a press conference on Tuesday (1), as she brought her hugely successful career that spanned more than two decades to a close.
"Today, I am here to share with you all that I'm officially hanging up these size 14 throwing shoes,” said Adams.
Day 125: 10 July
Elisangela Adriano began her athletics career at the age of 11. When she was 18 years old she broke the South American shot put record for the first time.
However, it was only when she was 21 that she was able to dedicate herself 100% to her training. She participated in three Olympic Games, seven World Championships, two World Indoor Championships and six Pan-American Games. She also has 21 national titles.
At 41 she retired as an athlete but she continued her long career in athletics as a volunteer in the Brazilian Federation’s Women's Committee. She is in charge of generating opportunities for the talented women in Brazilian Athletics to be seen and heard. Her work in the committee began to take on more strength in Monaco in 2019 when she trained as a Gender Leadership Moderator.
Read more via the Empowering Women in Athletics group on Facebook
Day 124: 9 July
Hayward Field has long been steeped in athletics folklore; a venue so rich in history that those who have stood in its presence swear that it is magic. The concept of ‘Hayward Magic’ may be foreign to many Australians, but Jessica Hull can attest to its transcendence.
As a 17-year-old, Hull experienced it for the first time. Competing at the World Junior Championships in 2014, the Australian surfed a wave of energy that stalked her every move around the track. The laps trickled down but the swell only grew, culminating in a frenzied whitewash that propelled her to seventh place in the 3000m final.
Hull had discovered a track and field mecca, like a church for those who preach athletics, and with a signature on the dotted line in 2015 – she had found a home in the esteemed University of Oregon.
Day 123: 8 July
"This year has been a great one for me, more than I had expected. I thank God, and so many others who helped me get here," says Peres Jepchirchir.
"The chance to go to the Tokyo Olympics came as a surprise because it was only going to be my third marathon outside Kenya. Having not been included in the initial team, the opportunity came all of a sudden. I had always harboured dreams of going to the Games, one day, one time, but still thought it was going to happen some years later, and not in 2021."
Day 122: 7 July
Day 121: 6 July
Comenzó a distancia un nuevo Seminario de Liderazgo de Genero, en este caso en inglés para nuevas representantes de los países de Sudamérica, como parte del programa de World Athletics, destinado a estimular la participación de la mujer en distintos puestos de conducción del atletismo.
Atletismo sudamericano viene realizando una intensa tarea a través de su ADC, para colocar a la mujer en posiciones de conducción en los distintos ámbitos de nuestro deporte.
Day 120: 5 July
For Tuesdays with Toyota, we are spotlighting some of USATF's most dedicated members with a short feature on USATF.org and our social media channels.
Here is our feature with USATF athlete Megan Kossar, member of the Pacific Association from San Francisco, California.
"I have two passions: one is running and one is my work. Both swing like a pendulum encouraging me to succeed in each. I’m a 51-year-old USATF PA member and I belong to the Impala Racing Team."
Day 119: 4 July
Day 118: 3 July
Seit fünf Jahren ist der Name Lena Pressler in der österreichischen Leichtathletik ein Begriff. Bei der U18-Europameisterschaft in Györ ging die Karriere der Athletin von UNION St. Pölten so richtig los. Sie brachte 2018 über die 400 m Hürden die Bronze-Medaille nach Hause. Was sich seit dem noch alles tat, hat Bernhard Rauch in Erfahrung gebracht.
Day 117: 2 July
Four years ago Eleanor Patterson was the shooting star who fell to earth.
As she approaches the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as the new world champion, she reflects on her most unlikely journey to the pinnacle of her sport.
Day 116: 1 July
Andreja Jost, from Slovenia, is one of the moderators of the Gender Leadership Programme and a mentor on the Mentoring Project, two of the key components of the European Athletics Leadership Programme.
In a Q&A, Jost describes the path she has travelled to reach her current positions and what she is doing in those roles.