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The athletics is now under way at the Paris Games and Team GB has medal chances in several events over the next week. Here is my verdict on the main British medal contenders at the Stade de France, in order of their finals.
Dina Asher-Smith, women’s 100m
The 100 metres is so competitive and challenging, but it is starting to open up a little. Shericka Jackson has pulled out of it to concentrate on the 200 metres and Elaine Thompson-Herah is injured. Dina has been running really well and has come into good form, so she could challenge the Jamaicans and Americans. If Dina can get to the final, she is one of the fastest in the world and running great times. She also looks strong in the 200 metres but again there is strong competition in the likes of Jackson and Gabby Thomas.
Prediction: Possible medal
Daryll Neita, women’s 100m
She has been running really well, too. For Dina and Daryll to have that domestic rivalry means they are pushing each other because you always want to be the best British athlete in your event. Daryll is absolutely capable of making the final. With her and Dina in the relay team, too, we have a really promising chance in that – they ran so well in the 4 x 100 metres at the Diamond League event in London.
Prediction: Outside chance of a medal
Louie Hinchliffe, men’s 100m
This is his first Olympic Games. It’s really exciting that he is there and I’m interested to see how he runs. He is so young and new and fresh to this world of elite, elite sport. He is coached by Carl Lewis and his story is insane, but he is here, he has already run some fast times and anything can happen in the 100m – if he can get into the final.
Prediction: Outside chance of a medal
Zharnel Hughes, men’s 100m
It is tough for Zharnel because he is trying to find his way back after injury problems. He had such a great year last year, winning a medal at the Worlds, and was in a great place, but unfortunately that is sport – you get niggles and timing is everything. The 100 metres is obviously very competitive and it should be an electric competition with the likes of Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley. Coming back from injury makes it more of a challenge for Zharnel. He will have to push through the pain and raise his level, but you can never count him out.
Prediction: Outside chance of a medal
Keely Hodgkinson, women’s 800m
Keely is looking in great shape. The way she raced in London recently with that time of 1min 54.61sec – which broke her own British record – shows she is ready for the Olympics. Athing Mu, who beat her in Tokyo, had a fall at the US trials so will not be competing. Keely is definitely going for gold and she is very capable of it.
Prediction: Gold
Josh Kerr, men’s 1500m
He is such a fiercely determined competitor and he has a great rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen. He has already become world champion and has made it very clear he is going for a gold medal. The way he has improved over the years, he has so much experience now and I think he can be a real threat to Ingebrigtsen.
Prediction: Gold
Molly Caudery, women’s pole vault
She has had an incredible year. She won at the World Indoor Championships at the beginning of the year when there was a great field, she has recorded personal bests and world leads. She has just gone to another level and stepped up to the quality of competition. She enjoys the pressure of performing and going out there with the top pole vaulters in the world. She has the confidence and skills to win a medal.
Prediction: Medal
Matthew Hudson-Smith, men’s 400m
He ran a fantastic time in the Diamond League event in London, breaking the European record. He has been working on every fine detail, he is so strict with his nutrition and everything else. He is definitely coming away with a medal and, if the race goes his way, it could be gold. His biggest challengers are Alexander Doom from Belgium and Quincy Hall from the United States. It is not going to be easy but he has got good momentum and the confidence to challenge them.
Prediction: Medal
Katarina Johnson-Thompson, heptathlon
The heptathlon is always tough. Kat looks in great shape and seems in a good place consistency-wise. That is what helped her win the world title last year and I think she will definitely be in the medals in Paris. Gold is not nailed on for Nafi Thiam, who is going for a third consecutive Olympic title. She is incredible across a lot of events but things can go wrong in the heptathlon and Kat has events that she is great at, like the high jump and 800 metres. She will push her.
Prediction: Medal
