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Paris Olympics are fast approaching, with sprinting giants Jamaica and the USA set to renew their rivalry as they descend on the purple track at the Stade de France. The track and field events at the Paris Olympics will be from August 1 to 11.
The likes of Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Shericka Jackson will renew their rivalries at the Paris Olympics and treat their fans to exciting showdowns.
Both countries have dominated the sprints in the past editions of the event and the Paris Olympics will be a true test of who is king of the global showpiece. Triple world champion Lyles has plans to win both the 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics and is bound to face tough opposition from the likes of Thompson and Seville.
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The women’s 100m race is very open, with breakout athlete Tia Clayton, Jackson, and Fraser-Pryce set to take on the American contingent of Richardson, Melissa Jefferson, and Twanisha Terry to retain the Olympic title.
Men's 100m and 2 other most exciting battles in track and field at Paris Olympics
#3. Women’s 100m at Paris Olympics
Elaine Thompson-Herah ensured the retention of the title from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce for the past two editions of the Olympic Games. However, she will not be defending her title at the Paris Olympics following an injury setback.
Jamaica have won the women’s 100m title since 2008, with Fraser-Pryce claiming double wins in Beijing and the 2012 London Olympics. Thompson-Herah took the mantle at the 2016 Rio Olympics and extended her winning streak to the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, the American women dominated the Olympics from 1984 to 1996 and all hopes will be resting on Richardson to deliver and take back the U.S. to the top. However, despite the pulling out of the defending champion, Richardson still has a huge task ahead of reclaiming the title.
Jackson, who was injured at the Gyulai István Memorial, will have her fingers crossed to be fully fit before the Paris Olympics. She has been referred to as the heir to Fraser-Pryce and the two-time world 200m champion has hopes to live up to that name.
Despite starting her season late, Jackson claimed wins at the Jamaican Olympic titles, securing a double ticket to the Paris Olympics. Fraser-Pryce will join Jackson, who will be flying the Jamaican flag high one last time.
As she exits the big stage, the 10-time world champion hopes to make history in Paris. Youngster Clayton also made the cut to the Olympic team and she will be out to impress.
Richardson has been in impressive form and owns the fastest time in the world this year. She clocked the time, 10.71, at the U.S. Olympic trials. Meanwhile, the American sprint queen will enjoy the company of Jefferson and Terry at the Paris Olympics.
#2. Women’s 200m at Paris Olympics
The women’s 200m at the Paris Olympics will be a fight between Jackson and Gabby Thomas, both aiming to win a gold medal.
The 200m has always been Jackson’s event but she is yet to win an Olympic gold medal due to a mistake she made at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, slowing down during the preliminaries of the 200m to miss a slot in the semifinal and final.
However, Thomas has also proven to be a 200m specialist, and she will be out to cement the narrative at the Paris Olympics. Allyson Felix won the title in 2012 before Thompson-Herah’s reign during the 2016 and 2021 editions of the Olympics.
Jackson will have the pressure to deliver and retain the title while all eyes will be on Thomas to reclaim the title at the Paris Olympics. At the Olympic trials, Thomas was in great shape, striking with a world-leading time of 21.81.
She only competed thrice before the trials, winning two of her races, the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and USATF New York City Grand Prix, before finishing sixth at the USATF LA Grand Prix.
Jackson had a slow start to her season, winning the Diamond League Meeting in Rabat in 22.82 before finishing fifth in Oslo. She won the meeting in Stockholm before reigning supreme at the Jamaican Olympic trials.
#1. Men’s 100m at Paris Olympics
The men’s 100m will be the crème de la crème at the Paris Olympics, pitting the greatest Americans against the greatest Jamaicans since the retirement of Justin Gatlin and Usain Bolt.
Lyles headlines the field, following his double win in the 100m and 200m at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The 26-year-old has been vocal about his plans for the Paris Olympics and the 100m is on the menu.
He has only been beaten once in the 100m, finishing second behind Seville at the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica. At the Paris Olympics, Lyles will be joined by Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley who finished second and third behind him at the U.S. Olympic trials.
Thompson leads the Jamaican contingent; thanks to his impressive form this season that saw him explode to a world-leading time of 9.77 in his season opener at the Jamaican Olympic trials. He is also fresh from winning the Gyulai István Memorial, beating a strong field.
Seville and Ackeem Blake join Thompson in the quest for glory, hoping to reclaim the title that was last won by Usain Bolt.
The American men have dominated the 100m since the inception of the Olympic Games in 1896 but with the rise of Usain Bolt, things became tough for Team USA.
Usain Bolt claimed the title in 2008 and continued the winning streak to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games before his retirement. Marcel Jacobs took the title at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games but as things stand, the Paris Olympics might be out to crown a new champion.
