London 2017: Who to watch

  • August 4th, 2017
  • Camilla Chapman

The World Athletics Championships start in London on Friday, in what is Usain Bolt's final competition before retiring, with the Jamaican superstar aiming to go out on a high with gold in the 100m and 4x100m relay. With 11 World golds since the 2009 Championship in Berlin, along with eight Olympic gold medals, Bolt will leave big running spikes to fill with not just his talent but also his infectious charisma.

With nine days of the World's best in Athletics going head-to-head, there is plenty of top action promised. We take a look at who could take over Usain's crown as King of sprinting, as well as who else to look out for in London.

The old rival


Usain Bolt's friend and training partner Yohan Blake will be looking to get back on the podium after a below par performance in the Olympics last year and The Beast looks to be back to his best. Blake recently won both the 100m and 200m titles at the Jamaican nationals, in which he ran 19.97 in the 200m, his first sub 20 second run since 2012. With his old rival Bolt not racing in the 200m, the door is ajar for Blake to go for glory once again, whilst the two could make up half of the Jamaican 4x100m relay team in what will be Bolt's final race.

The record breaker


Kendra Harrison didn't make it to Rio, after a poor run at the American trials, but she soon showed her class after smashing the world record at the London Anniversary Games before the Olympics. After clocking a 12.20, she has ran to within 0.8 seconds of the same time this year and won the trials this year, despite already qualifying as the Diamond League champion. Could she break her own world record at the London Stadium?

The 400m hotshot


Wayde van Niekerk set the 400m alight in Rio after breaking Michael Johnson's world record with a storming run; a world record that had stood for 17 years. He also has the fastest time in the world this season, with a 43.62, and he is also doubling up with running in the 200m. In a stadium where records have been broken before, watch out for the South African star.

There's sure to be plenty of exciting races and competitions during these World Championships, as the sport waves goodbye to a legend with not only an extraordinary talent, but also one with a larger-than-life personality.