2023-08-31 06:45:00
Just four days following turning the page of the Budapest Worlds where they sparkled, the sprint rockets tumbled to the Diamond League meeting in Zurich (Switzerland) on Thursday, Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles in the lead.
. Richardson and Lyles, American stars
His first steps were postponed for two years, between suspension for a positive cannabis test and poor mental and sporting form, but Sha’Carri Richardson only needed one big meeting to make a place for himself. on the international scene.
In one week, the 23-year-old American became the new queen of the 100m, with the fastest time in history in the world final (10.65), followed up with bronze in the 200m, and concluded with the gold shared with the women’s 4x100m.
American Noah Lyles winner of the 200m at the World Athletics Championships on August 25, 2023 in Budapest (AFP/Archives – ANDREJ ISAKOVIC)
His colorful personality, with his looks worked down to the tips of his fingernails and eyelashes, his surprising speech and his tormented personal history, had the effect of a boost for the American sprint as well as for the world athlete. .
In Zurich, the little Texan bomb is already going over the gas in the prestigious Letzigrund stadium, announced to be sold out. If Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Marie-Josée Ta Lou are among those who have given up, the Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, double Olympic champion in title in the 100m and 200m but who is going through a bad season, is there. YOU.
Even better than Richardson, Noah Lyles scored a resounding hat-trick in the Hungarian capital: the first 100m-200m double since Jamaican star Usain Bolt in 2015, along with gold with the men’s 4x100m.
“I’m really happy. Three gold medals is more than I might ask for, in the relay you never know, it’s a blessing,” he appreciates.
Lyles will run the 200m, his favorite distance, on the Swiss track. Probably spurred on by his young compatriot Erriyon Knighton, silver medalist in Budapest. Not by the young Batswana Letsile Tebogo, finally absent.
The 26-year-old American has not been beaten on the half-lap for more than two years, in the Olympic final in Tokyo.
. Jackson continues with ease
Crowned world champion in the 200m for the second year in a row, by getting even closer to the controversial world record of “Flo-Jo” which dates back 35 years, this time at seven hundredths (21.41 once morest 21.34), Shericka Jackson assures that chaining is not a problem for her.
Jamaican Shericka Jackson gold medal in the 200m at the Worlds, August 25, 2023 in Budapest (AFP/Archives – Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV)
“It’s really easy for me. It’s not the first time I’ve doubled (100m and 200m in major championships), my body is used to it. And I fulfilled my objectives for the season. It’s more of a mental thing, and that’s something I take seriously,” she said.
The 29-year-old Jamaican does not promise anything supersonic. “I hope to have a good race, but I don’t think it’s going to be super fast,” she said.
Other world champions freshly expected at Letzigrund, the Norwegian Karsten Warholm in the 400m hurdles, the Italian Gianmarco Tamberi in the high jump, the Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas in the triple jump or the Indian Neeraj Chopra in the javelin throw.
. Duplantis for a remake
“Mondo” Duplantis may have a feeling of déjà vu. Like him, the entire Budapest podium went to Zurich, with the Filipino Ernest John Obiena, the American Chris Nilsen and the Australian Kurtis Marschall.
Swedish Armand Duplantis pole vault gold medal at the Worlds, August 26, 2023 in Budapest (AFP – Ben Stansall)
Add to that two other Americans, with a certainly disappointing season but with a serious CV, KC Lightfoot and Sam Kendricks, and the pole vaulter phenomenon knows that there will be no room for relaxation.
“It’s difficult, so close to the world final, but it can be a good thing. There can be a bit of mental fatigue, we’re a bit elsewhere, but it’s serious: that’s what it takes to remobilize”, positive the Swedish champion, who stumbled in the Hungarian capital on a bar hoisted to 6.23 m, one centimeter above his world record.
Very largely disappointing at the recent Worlds, the Blues will be represented in particular by their best elements of the moment in Zurich: Thibaut Collet in the pole vault, Alice Finot in the 3,000m steeplechase, both 5th in Budapest, Sasha Zhoya in the 110m hurdles (6th) .
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