Athletics 2023/2024

[AV82EC]

There are some athletes getting to a level which could fill the marketing void left by Usain Bolt. Femke Bolt, Mondo Duplantis, Gianmarco Tamberi and maybe Mutaz Barshim, although him and Tamberi might be a bit too old in the long term.

Womens 800m is the most exciting event for me, 3 genuinely world class runners in Hodgkinson, Mu and Moraa who are all young enough to be around for the next or even 3 olympics after this. I suspect that competition will drive them to some pretty spectacular races, it's the big one this summer for me.

Can they get close to that bloke Kratochvilovas record though?

[paul_e]

There are some athletes getting to a level which could fill the marketing void left by Usain Bolt. Femke Bolt, Mondo Duplantis, Gianmarco Tamberi and maybe Mutaz Barshim, although him and Tamberi might be a bit too old in the long term.

Womens 800m is the most exciting event for me, 3 genuinely world class runners in Hodgkinson, Mu and Moraa who are all young enough to be around for the next or even 3 olympics after this. I suspect that competition will drive them to some pretty spectacular races, it's the big one this summer for me.

Can they get close to that bloke Kratochvilovas record though?

Mu and Hodgkinson are both in the top 10 and still years away from their peak.

[maidstonevillain]

There are some athletes getting to a level which could fill the marketing void left by Usain Bolt. Femke Bolt, Mondo Duplantis, Gianmarco Tamberi and maybe Mutaz Barshim, although him and Tamberi might be a bit too old in the long term.

Womens 800m is the most exciting event for me, 3 genuinely world class runners in Hodgkinson, Mu and Moraa who are all young enough to be around for the next or even 3 olympics after this. I suspect that competition will drive them to some pretty spectacular races, it's the big one this summer for me.

Can they get close to that bloke Kratochvilovas record though?

Mu and Hodgkinson are both in the top 10 and still years away from their peak.

I thought at one time both of them will eventually do it. But I'm beginning to think another 2 seconds is a lot to find.
May be  they will get overtaken by Phoebe Gill.

[maidstonevillain]

Molly Caudery again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cgllv872g18o

       1:56 and a bit in.

4.92m. Improved her PB by 6cm. National Record. Highest vault in World since 2021. Now the 7th vaulter on all time World list.

She had one attempt at 5.0m. And it wasn't far away. (About 2:01 in)

And this was on a temporary pole vault set up in Toulouse town square, in blustery and rainy conditions.

If the pole vault wasn't such a fickle event, she would have to be GBs best bet for a Paris Gold.

[Villa Lew]

Best chances of GB individual Olympic Gold in Athletics I would say are, Keely Hodgkinson, Dina Asher Smith, Molly Caudery, Katerina Johnson Thompson and Josh Kerr.

[maidstonevillain]

Wouldn't disagree with that, but I would also throw in Zharnel Hughes and Hudson-Smith.
Hodgkinson is the stand-out GB athlete, but she's got some tough competition for the gold, although what condition Mu is in is an unknown. Asher-Smith and KJT are past their best, and also have tough competition, although KJT should be good enough for at least a bronze. Asher-Smith lost her best years by sticking with an out of date coach. The same can probably be said for Muir.
Advantage Caudery has is that she appears to be almost untouchable at the moment. But things can very easily go wrong in the pole vault.

[edgysatsuma89]

I don't see any way in which Dina wins gold. If anything I don't think she will get a medal of any colour, not outside of a relay.

[maidstonevillain]

Wouldn't disagree with that, but I would also throw in Zharnel Hughes and Hudson-Smith.
Hodgkinson is the stand-out GB athlete, but she's got some tough competition for the gold, although what condition Mu is in is an unknown. Asher-Smith and KJT are past their best, and also have tough competition, although KJT should be good enough for at least a bronze. Asher-Smith lost her best years by sticking with an out of date coach. The same can probably be said for Muir.
Advantage Caudery has is that she appears to be almost untouchable at the moment. But things can very easily go wrong in the pole vault.

Reekie's chance of a medal has improved dramatically. Athing Mu falls in USA Olympic trials.

[Exeter 77]

Yaroslava Mahuchikh has broken the 37 year old women's world high jump record - it now stands at 2.10m

[Tayls_7]

Yaroslava Mahuchikh has broken the 37 year old women's world high jump record - it now stands at 2.10m

I feel it's also worth mentioning that she's absolutely gorgeous.

[maidstonevillain]

The 1500m is worth watching too. Kipyegon broke the World Record again. But Jessica Hull of Australia, who is also gorgeous, ran her close until the last 200m, and improved her pb and the National Record by 5 secs. Laura Muir was a distant third, and set a new British Record.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cl4y13kv3d6o

[Villa Lew]

Keely in great form, ran 1 min 54.61 yesterday, the fastest women's 800m since 2018.

[maidstonevillain]

Keely in great form, ran 1 min 54.61 yesterday, the fastest women's 800m since 2018.

That depends on how you categorise Caster Semenya.

[tomd2103]

Keely in great form, ran 1 min 54.61 yesterday, the fastest women's 800m since 2018.

Found the montage the BBC showed at the end of the programme last night which interspersed footage of her winning the gold medal with her running as a junior quite moving.

[Risso]

But Jessica Hull of Australia, who is also gorgeous, ran her close until the last 200m

Each to their own, but in my opinion, she looks like 80s Scouse pop sensation Sonia.