The 19th edition of the World Athletics Championship is set to take place in Budapest, Hungary, with athletes from all corners of the globe competing for the coveted medals. Here’s a look at some of the leading candidates and what to expect.
A Universal Sporting Event
After 40 years of history, the World Athletics Championship is back just 13 months after its last edition in Eugene. This time, Budapest will host over 2,100 athletes from 202 countries, all competing in 49 events for a total of 147 medals. The championship will feature both male and female categories, including the 4×400 meters mixed relay.
Star Athletes to Watch
Several big names in the world of athletics are expected to attend the tournament, including:
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: A Jamaican sprinter known for her speed and agility.
- Faith Kipyegon: The Kenyan middle-distance runner who has made a mark in the 1500 meters.
- Sifan Hassan: The Dutch middle-distance and long-distance runner.
- Jakob Ingebrigtsen: The Norwegian middle-distance runner.
- Noah Lyles: The American sprinter specializing in the 200 meters.
- Karsten Warholm: The Norwegian hurdler and sprinter.
- Armand Duplantis: The Swedish pole vaulter who has broken multiple world records.
- Yulimar Rojas: The Venezuelan athlete known for her triple jump prowess.
- Ryan Crouser: The American shot putter.
- Kimberly García: The Peruvian racewalker.
- Joshua Cheptegei: The Ugandan long-distance runner.
- Pawel Fajdek: The Polish hammer thrower.
- Spain is also fielding a strong team, with hopes of surpassing their previous medal tally. Athletes like María Pérez, Álvaro Martín, and Mohamed Katir are among the top contenders in their respective categories.
Some significant absences include Sydney McLaughlin, who is recovering from a minor knee injury, and Tobi Amusan, who was suspended for missing three doping tests.
Event Highlights
The championship will span from August 19 to August 27. Some of the events to look forward to include:
- 20km Men’s Race Walk: Spanish athletes Álvaro Martín and Diego García Carrera are among the favourites.
- Men’s Shot Put: Ryan Crouser, with his recent world record, is the athlete to beat.
- Women’s 10,000m: Sifan Hassan and Letesenbet Gidey are the top contenders.
- Mixed 4x400m Relay: A highly unpredictable event with teams from the USA, Dominican Republic, Poland, and the Netherlands as top contenders.
- Women’s 20km Race Walk: María Pérez of Spain is the world leader this year and is a strong medal contender.
- Women’s Long Jump: With the absence of Malaika Mihambo, the field is open with contenders like Ackelia Smith and Tara Davis-Woodhall.
- Men’s Hammer Throw: The event is dominated by Polish athletes, with Wojciech Nowicki leading the pack.
- Men’s 100m: A potential showdown between Marcell Jacobs and Fred Kerley awaits fans.
In conclusion, the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championship promises to be a thrilling event, with elite athletes from all over the world battling for gold. The championship will be a sight to remember thanks to the combination of seasoned veterans and upcoming stars.
