he World Athletics Championships getting started in OregonUSA on Friday, with the planet’s best athletes descending on one of the most iconic locations of the running track at Hayward Field.
For British athletes this has been a packed summer of three major outdoor championships, but what about the sport’s global stars?
Here we look at ten international stars who could lighten up the competition, from established names and champions to young talents looking for their first world titles.
Sydney McLaughlin (US) 400m hurdles ladies
McLaughlin needs no introduction after breaking the world record en route to a stunning gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, but is looking for a first world title after finishing second to teammate Dalilah Muhammad in Doha three years ago.
The 22-year-old is arguably the greatest talent in the sport right now, breaking her own world record last month when she ran 51.41 at Hayward Field in the US Trials. Most forebodingly, she also looked quite comfortable.
Erriyon Knighton (US) Men’s 200m
Knighton is only 18 and already the fourth fastest man in 200m history, having started his season with 19.49 in April. Only Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Michael Johnson have ever gone faster – not bad.
Fourth in last year’s Olympics as a 17-year-old (the youngest U.S. track and field Olympian since 1964), the Floridian is chasing his first senior world medal.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) High jump ladies
There would be few better stories at these championships than when Mahuchikh added world champion outdoor gold to the indoor title she won in Belgrade earlier this year after fleeing her homeland following the Russian invasion.
The 20-year-old already has world silver and Olympic bronze in her collection and her hopes for gold are boosted by the fact that three-time defending champion, Russia’s Mariya Lasitskene, has been banned from participating.
Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) Men’s Pole Vault
Like McLaughlin, the Swede is another who is well established as the dominant force in his discipline, but has never won gold at the World Championship.
The 22-year-old broke his own indoor world record twice earlier this year, becoming the first man to clear the 6.20m, then improved the outer limit by jumping 6.16m in the Stockholm Diamond League last month.
Mondo Duplantis is favorite to add World Cup gold to his Olympic title
† Getty ImagesYulimar Rojas (Venezuela) triple jump ladies
The fact that Rojas is already a world record holder and is looking for a third world title, but still gives the feeling that there is more to come, gives you an idea of her talent.
The 26-year-old from 15.74m at the World Indoor Championships in March is almost a meter further than any other woman has jumped this year. She was hoping to double in the long jump in Eugene, but her qualifying streak was cleared because it came while she was wearing unapproved shoes.
Ryan Crouser (US) Shot put men
In what is widely recognized as a golden era for men’s shot put, Crouser is on his own, with his world record of 23.37 meters a full 10 inches further than anyone has ever thrown.
However, he had to settle for silver in an epic final in Doha, where the top three were just 1cm apart – this will surely be his time.
Abby Steiner (US) Ladies 200m
It’s usually the case that times set by American collegiate sensations should be taken with a grain of salt en route to their first major championships, but Steiner’s appearances at Hayward Field this season suggest she’s ready to mix it up with the big guns. from Jamaica.
The 22-year-old broke the NCAA record by winning the collegiate title in 21.80, then ran the same time at the same venue in the US Trials semifinals before going even faster (21.77) to win the title. , the second fastest time in the world this year.
Abby Steiner could be ready to compete on the world stage
† Getty ImagesMichael Norman (US) Men 400m
Speaking of collegiate sensations excelling at major championships, Norman entered Doha 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics as a favorite for gold, but was disappointed with both.
He has yet to win an individual global medal in any color, but is once again the man to beat after breaking the Diamond League record earlier this season.
Something in (US) 800m . ladies
Mu was arguably the 2021 breakout star in the sport, breaking the US record on her way to a dominant success in Tokyo, beating Britain’s fellow teenager Keely Hodgkinson.
The 20-year-old has gone undefeated over 800 yards outdoors for the past two seasons and is ready for another showdown with the Hodgkinson in Oregon.
Alison Dos Santos (Brazil) 400m hurdles men
The men’s 400m hurdles have been taken to new heights in recent seasons, not only by world record holder Karsten Warholm, but also by those who chased him, including American Rai Benjamin and in-form Dos Santos.
As Warholm enters these championships after a season of many injuries, Dos Santos, the fastest man in the world who won four out of four on the Diamond League circuit this year, is flying.