World Athletics Championships: Kelsey-Lee Barber, Matt Denny among stars to watch in Tokyo
From Noah Lyles to Kelsey-Lee Barber, there have been plenty of impressive performances by athletes in Doha over the last week who come next year‘s Olympics we will/should know a lot more about.
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- Starc frustration with ‘failure to put it all together’
- Aussie star collapses as intense heat takes toll
The beauty of the Olympic Games is that every four years they turn athletes into household names.
While they may have been building impressive careers in their respective sports, it’s often only when the world is watching at an Olympics that their extraordinary deeds are showcased and celebrated.
While the heat, lack of crowds and the Alberto Salazar drug scandal has taken a lot of gloss off the world track and field championships in Doha, there have been plenty of impressive performances by athletes who come next year in Tokyo we will know a lot more about:
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NOAH LYLES
The American sprinter is aiming to live up to the one-word tattoo written across his rib cage - “ICON”. After winning the 200m world title, Lyles, 22, declared he would win three gold medals in Tokyo and confirm himself as Usain Bolt’s replacement.
DONAVAN BRAZIER
Produced the “wow” moment of the championships when he took over with 300m to go in the 800m final and blew his rivals away. The American is part of the Nike Oregon Project which has been in the spotlight after the four-year ban of its head coach Alberto Salazar. This added to the raised eyebrows of one of the best performances in Doha.
DINA ASHER-SMITH
The world fell in love with the British sprinter who took silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m. With a beaming smile and welcoming personality, the 23-year-old is a pleasant change from the macho antics of her male colleagues. Her battle with 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m next year should be fascinating.
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
Shrugged off a drug scandal which had been swirling around him in the lead-up to blow away the field in the 100m. His battle with Lyles to be Usain Bolt’s heir apparent will be gripping but unfortunately for Coleman the stigma regarding his missed drug tests is going to be hard to shake.
JAKOB INGEBRIGTSEN
The youngest of three brothers who are all world-class middle-distance runners from Norway. These running machines have been trained by their fanatical father since they were able to walk. Jakob, 19, is considered the best of the trio and he ran brilliantly in the 5000m before being overwhelmed late.
KELSEY-LEE BARBER
Will be the face of Australia’s team leading into Tokyo. Produced the clutch moment of the championships, moving from fourth to first with her final throw in the javelin final. Coached by her husband Mike, the 28-year-old is in the peak of powers ahead of her second Olympic Games.
YAROSLAVA MAHUCHIKH
Has the world at her feet after winning silver in the high jump. The 18-year-old from the Ukraine broke the world U/20 record (2.04m) and ticks all the right boxes for global superstardom. Expect to see her on billboards in Tokyo.
MATT DENNY
The big Queenslander finished sixth in the discus but showed he has all the tools to be in the medal mix next year. The performance vindicated his decision to drop the hammer throw - he won a silver medal in the event at the Commonwealth Games last year - and with another nine months of development in the discus he will be a force in Tokyo.
DALILAH MUHAMMAD
The American has taken hold of the 400m hurdles event this year. She broke the world record in July and then did it again in the world championships final to claim gold.
NIKLAS KAUL
The 21-year-old became the youngest ever decathlon world champion. The German blew his competitors away after producing the biggest ever javelin throw of the multi-event’s history (79.05m).