Top 5 athletes to watch out for at the 2022 World Athletics Championships

The 2022 World Athletics Championships are all set to begin in Eugene, Oregon from 15th July to 24th July. The 10 action packed days of track and field will see some of the greatest athletes take to the big stage. The competition will be intense and the pressure will be high for all athletes.

Several athletes are expected to be in serious medal contention, and there are several surprise athletes who could also take the limelight. As expected, fans are looking forward to seeing some of their favourite athletes take the stage. But here are 5 athletes that you should definitely watch out for at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

Top 5 athletes to watch out for at the 2022 World Athletics Championships

1. Neeraj Chopra- India

Of course one of the most anticipated performances comes from reigning Javelin Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra. The athlete has been having a fantastic season so far, and is extremely close to breaking the 90m mark- especially after hitting a new national record of 89.94m at the Paavo Nurmi Games. Expectations are high for him to bag another medal and create history once again for India- this time at the World Championships.

Also read: “Of course I feel pressure”: Neeraj Chopra on heading into the 2022 World Athletics Championships

2. Sydney McLaughlin- USA

World record holder and Olympic Champion in the 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin, is the hot favourite to take the title this year. She recently broke the World Record at the USATF Championships. However, she faces tough competition from her fellow athlete and long time rival- Dalilah Muhammad. She is the 2016 Olympic Champion and holds the second fastest time in history. Muhammad will certainly give McLaughlin a run for her money.

3. Lamont Marcell Jacobs- Italy

Lamont Marcell Jacobs has certainly had one of the most memorable years. Jacobs was crowned the ‘fastest man on Earth’ after he won the 2021 Tokyo Olympics men’s 100m sprint event. However, since then he has not been seen on the international stage much, missing several Diamond Leagues.

His performance at the Italian National Championships was impressive however, and the entire world is left wondering whether he can repeat his Olympics feat once again. Jacobs will face a tough field, with the likes of Yohan Blake, Fred Kerley and Trayvon Bromell on the track.

Also read: “Will test the waters”: Marcell Jacobs forced to miss Diamond League, heads to US instead

4. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce- Jamaica

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been having a fantastic season so far, and is expected to take the top spot at the World Championships. She is also in for the possibility of breaking a historic 100m world record, after setting the world best time of the year- not once but twice- a blistering pace of 10.67s. She is expected to keep up with the pace and get closer to the world record that has remained for 34 years.

5. Mondo Duplantis- Sweden

Mondo Duplantis has certainly caught the eye of the world ever since he went pro. Considered to be one of the greatest pole vaulters of all time, Duplantis has constantly been breaking records since he started. He recently broke the outdoor pole vault world record with a massive clearance of 6.16m. While he could not conquer his indoor world record of 6.20m, he has certainly managed to sweep records in both categories now. He will be looking to break the record once again, as he seems unstoppable.

Also read: “One last honour”: Allyson Felix makes US roster for 2022 World Championships, Sha’Carri Richardson left out after disappointing performance

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