Event by event previews for all of the athletics events at the Tokyo Olympics can be found below:
100m
Tokyo previews – Men’s 100m
The old guard may have left us but Tokyo will be exciting in crowning the new one and it is a likeable bunch indeed. The beaming Akani Simbine, a Trayvon Bromell in the midst of an epic comeback or the understated Ronnie…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 100m
Sha-Carri Richardson may be missing but the 100m is still one of Tokyo’s events to watch. Two of the five fastest women of all time, a host of genuine medal contenders and a British gold attempt, what’s not to like? Here’s our…
110m H/ 100m H
Tokyo previews – Men’s 110m Hurdles
Tokyo is denied one of its most exciting duels courtesy of Omar McLeod hitting the first hurdle and crashing in the Jamaican trials. In doing so he lost the opportunity to defend his Olympic title. Grant…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 100m Hurdles
A first athletics gold for Puerto Rico through Jasmine Camacho-Quinn or will Kendra Harrison seal Olympic redemption (she failed to qualify for the USA in 2016 despite being the fastest in the world) for the USA?…
200m
Tokyo previews – Men’s 200m
Though the US lead the charge, plenty more have hopes of a medal in an event where several could claim gold. Will it be…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 200m
USA versus the Caribbean with a certain British World Champion, the women’s 200m promises to be one of the events of the Olympic Games.…
400m
Tokyo previews – Men’s 400m
A US 1-2-3 in Tokyo? You know what it’s not off the cards. Here’s our men’s 400m preview for the Tokyo Olympics.…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 400m
With three of the four fastest in the world this year not in the event the stage is set for Shaunae Miller-Uibo?…
400m H
Tokyo previews – Men’s 400m Hurdles
Karsten Warholm’s Olympic procession? It could be but there’s plenty more capable of nabbing the gold. Here’s our men’s 400m Hurdles preview for the Tokyo Olympics. Schedule Friday…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 400m Hurdles
Tokyo will feature three of the five fastest 400m hurdlers of all time. A fourth didn’t even manage to make the US team. That’s how stacked the Women’s…
800m
Tokyo previews – Men’s 800m
It might not be the quickest half mile in a few years but it will sure be interesting. A resurgent Nijel Amos, a mercurial Clayton Murphy and a whole host of British prospects. Here’s our men’s 800m preview. Schedule…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 800m
The American’s lead the charge in an event where many women can make credible claims to a potential medal. Here’s our preview for the women’s 800m. Schedule Friday 30 July 01:55am (Heats), Saturday 31 July 12:50pm (Semifinals), Tuesday 3…
1500m
Tokyo previews – Men’s 1500m
The 1500m is one of the most exciting of the entire games. Timothy Cheruiyot starts as a clear favourite but his recent fourth place in the Kenyan champs shows anything can happen on the day. Schedule…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 1500m
The world’s greatest take on the metric mile. With it still undecided whether Sifan Hassan will run the distance regardless any medalist will have more than earnt the prize. Schedule Monday 2 August 01:35 UK Time…
3000m Steeplechase
Tokyo preview – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase
Not since 1980 has anyone but a Kenyan won the men’s 3000m Steeplechase at the Olympics. 2021 looks like it might finally be the year, will the dominance continue or will it be nine and out…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase
Tokyo will have several athletes thinking they’ve got a shot of Olympic gold. The Steeple is one of the hardest to predict but we’ll give it a good go. Here’s our Women’s 3000m Steeplechase preview. Schedule…
5000m
Tokyo previews – Men’s 5000m
This could be the event of the games with so many athletes in contention for gold. A world record holder, two prodigies and a Spaniard on fire this…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 5000m
Hassan versus Tsegay versus Obiri. Throw in the rest of a stacked Ethiopian team and you have one of the races of the Olympics and one where a…
10,000m
Tokyo previews – Men’s 10,000m
A straight shootout for Olympic gold and the opportunity to claim Mo Farah’s crown. World record holder Joshua Cheptegei will start as favourite but is…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 10,000m
One of the Olympic Games most anticipated clashes comes on the final night as world record holders former and present duel in the Tokyo twilight.…
Marathon
Tokyo previews – Men’s Marathon
The Men’s Marathon takes place on the island of Hokkaido to the north of Japan, in the city of Sapporo. Eliud Kipchoge will aim to defend his…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Marathon
The subsequent banning of Jemima Sumgong will mean Tokyo crowns a new women’s marathon champion. World record holder Brigid Kosgei heads a Kenyan team featuring three of…
Long Jump
Tokyo previews – Men’s Long Jump
All Rio’s medalists are not on the plane to Tokyo meaning a new cohort will be crowned in a wide open long jump competition. Two young sensations hoping to battle it out for Olympic glory, here’s…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Long Jump
A small chocolate bar in length separates the best in the world this year with a whole host of women capable of winning the gold. Here’s our women’s long jump preview for Tokyo. Schedule Sunday 1…
Triple Jump
Tokyo preview – Men’s Triple Jump
With Christian Taylor failing to qualify for Tokyo and Will Claye not quite reaching top form the men’s triple jump looks up for grabs. Athletes from Portugal, Cuba and Burkina Faso will all be gunning for…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Triple Jump
Venezuela have never won a gold medal in athletics. Yulimar Rojas will do everything in her power to change that. Here’s our preview of the women’s triple jump in Tokyo. Schedule Friday 30 July 11:05 UK…
High Jump
Tokyo previews – Men’s High Jump
The Men’s high jump title at the Tokyo Olympics is up for grabs. Reigning champ Derek Drouin of Canada is out but there and there will be plenty hoping to…
Tokyo previews – Women’s High Jump
Mariya Lasitskene may be appearing under a neutral flag but millions of Russians will be hoping to see her crowned Olympic champion for the first time. To do so she…
Pole Vault
Tokyo previews – Men’s Pole Vault
Probably the friendlist event in athletics, it’s also one that’s been flying over the last couple of years. World record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis will start as favourite but a win in Tokyo would be his…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Pole Vault
The pole vault title is up for grabs and there will be plenty with dreams of standing on top of the podium. Dare I say it one of them will be Britain’s own Holly Bradshaw. Here’s…
Discus
Tokyo previews – Men’s Discus
Sweden have high hopes for the men’s discus and with good reason. World Champ Daniel Ståhl is throwing as well as ever and has…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Discus
Sandra Perković will aim to make it threw Olympic titles in a row. If she does she will be the first female athlete in…
Hammer
Tokyo previews – Men’s Hammer
Four men have broken eighty metres in a significant improvement from Rio. Some of the sport’s most established stars face the challenge of a twenty-year-old with momentum. Could Mykhaylo Kokhan be Tokyo’s breakout star? Here’s our…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Hammer
On paper the women’s hammer would appear to be the USA’s to lose but there are plenty of subplots to what should be an exciting throws competition. Here’s our women’s hammer preview for the Tokyo Olympics.…
Javelin
Tokyo previews – Men’s Javelin
Will Tokyo see Jan Železný’s 25 year old Javelin world record broken? Don’t write it off. Johannes Vetter is flying and the rest of the world will try their best to catch up. Here’s our…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Javelin
Can Barbora Špotáková win a third Olympic title at the age of forty? It’s not beyond the realms of possibility. Here’s our women’s javelin preview for Tokyo. Schedule Tuesday 3 August 01:20 UK Time (Qualification)…
Shot Put
Tokyo previews – Men’s Shot Put
Fresh from his world record Ryan Crouser will aim to defend his Olympic title. He will be challenged by an elite level field right up there with…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Shot Put
China versus the USA? World Champs versus the next big thing? An intriguing battle will take place for Olympic honours, here’s our women’s Shot Put preview. Schedule…
Combined Events
Tokyo previews – Men’s Decathlon
Ten events is hard enough. Couple it with the humidity of Tokyo in summer and you can see why decathletes are some of the toughest in…
Tokyo previews – Women’s Heptathlon
Nafissatou (Nafi) Thiam and Katerina Johnson-Thompson have won the last three major champs between them. Will anyone challenge the duopoly or will it be another duel…
4 x 100m Relay
Tokyo previews – Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
A team full of superstars or a well oiled engine? The men’s 4 x 100m isn’t quite as simple as it seems. While the USA possess by far the fastest…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Jamaica lead the charge by virtue of a quartet which includes the winners of the last three 100m Olympic titles. A whole host of countries will be hoping to seize…
4 x 400m Relay
Tokyo previews – 4 x 400m Mixed
If they can carry the baton round you’d be brave (insert delusional) to think the USA won’t win this. The five fastest times in the…
Tokyo preview – Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
The USA look set to be the team to beat in Tokyo but a wide open race will mean an almighty fight for the rest…
Tokyo previews – Women’s 4 x 400m Relay
Ludicrous strength in depth once more resides in the USA but this could be tight. Despite US riches, Jamaica have a strong team and could…
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