The IPC World ParaAthletic Championships provided a true showcase of extraordinary feats of athletics at London Stadium. Stars were born and legends cemented, now it’s over to the IAAF World Championships. The historic nine days, starting on the 4th August, will bring an end to the iconic track careers of Usain Bolt and Mo Farah, two of the most established names in the sport. As they depart, new faces emerge, here’s who to look out for:
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Wayde Van Niekerk
The 400m king, South African superman Wayde Van Niekerk heads to London with every title under his ownership. Olympic, World and African champion as well as the world record holder, he’s one of the most acclaimed athletes on show.
Last year he became the first man to ever run the 100m in under 10 seconds, the 200m under 20 seconds and 400m under 44 seconds. He is a serial record breaker and is sure to excite the crowd this summer.
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Dina Asher-Smith
London’s own has her eyes on gold this year. Asher-Smith is the face of the Team GB women’s sprinters after taking the European title last year in the 200m and bronze alongside the 4x100m team in Rio.
The British record-holder in the 100 and 200m, will go for her first global gold in the 200m. With the home crowd roaring her on, it could be the extra push she needs to achieve her dreams.
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Mutaz Barsim
The Qatari high jumper has been head, shoulders and a bar above everyone else in his field. Barsim is yet to win a global outdoor gold, with a bronze in London Stadium in 2012, a silver in Rio and a disappointing fourth at the last World championships.
Undefeated in competition this year, it would be an almighty surprise if Barsim didn’t break his golden hoodoo. Expect wild celebrations if he is ends victorious.
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Emmanuel Korir
To eclipse the legacy of David Rudisha in the 800m will be tough for any athlete, but an upcoming Kenyan could beat the best in London. Korir is unbeaten in competition this year and won the Kenyan trials, whilst multiple and reigning champion Rudisha has had a disrupted year. The 22-year-old would shock the world to overcome the world record holder at his first global championships... could he?
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Dafne Schippers
The reigning world 200m champion took everyone by surprise in Beijing, just three months after switching from Heptathlon to a permanent sprinter. The Dutch champion will seek retribution for missing Olympic gold to Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson by retaining her world crown.
IAAF actions could see Schippers become the world record holder in the 200m, she can prove why she deserves to be, in London Stadium next week.Â
