London World Athletics Championships: Usain Bolt, Mo Farah who else do we need to watch?

We cannot talk about the London World Athletics Championships without mentioning Bolt. Usain Bolt, without doubt one of the greatest athletes ever, will step on track for his final ever international World Championships. Can he do the unthinkable and come away from these championships with 2 more gold medals? In the 100m, will he fight off the formerly convicted drug cheat, Justin Gatlin? It is a duel we are very excited to see play out.

Kendra Harrison is the hot favourite for the 100m hurdle title. She unfortunately had to miss out on the Olympics, after missing the top three at the US trials. Last year, she set the world record for the event in 12:20 a week after the Olympics. The London World Athletics Championships is where she has the chance to shine. She qualified by winning US trials so is the hot favourite to put her mark on the track in London where she set that world record last year.

Van Niekerk came out and destroyed Michael Johnson’s record for the 400m in the Rio Olympics in a time of 43.04. He has a close rival in the form of Fred Kerley who has run times extremely close to him this season thus far. Watch out for him in the London World Athletics Championships, see how fast he can go and whether with Fred on his back, that sub-43 is a possibility!

Laura Muir has been incredible form setting record after record this season already, a notable one being her sub 2 minute 800m earlier in the year. She is set to take on the 1500 & 5000m and looking like a strong contender to medal in both events.

Mo Farah – double Olympic Champion and defending World Champion in the 10,000m – will have the Ethiopians and Kenyans hot on his heels as normal. The likes of Abadi Hadis & Jemal Yimer have both clocked quicker times than him this season. Can he come away with the win and defend his title?

On the field, British interest lies in Holly Bradshaw in the Pole Vault, if she could jump close to the British record she may cause an upset. In the throws, Sophie Hitchon, bronze medallist from the Olympics last year has a chance to medal at London too.

Overall, the British contingent are many in number and will have a home advantage, which always lifts performance.

Who do you think are the athletes to watch? Let us know on Facebook…