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Some world records define an era. Others transcend generations. Jarmila Kratochvílová's astonishing 1:53.28 in the women's 800 meters belongs firmly in the latter category.

On July 26, 1983, in Munich, the Czech star delivered one of the most extraordinary performances the sport has ever witnessed, setting a world record that has now survived for an incredible 43 years. It remains the longest-standing individual track world record in athletics, a remarkable achievement in an era when advances in training, sports science, nutrition, and competition have seen countless other records disappear.

What makes Kratochvílová's feat even more extraordinary is that she was not primarily an 800-meter runner. She built her reputation as a dominant 400-meter specialist and only entered the two-lap race as a fitness test after recovering from leg cramps. What began as an experiment quickly turned into history.

After charging through an aggressive opening lap, Kratochvílová maintained her relentless pace all the way to the finish, crossing the line in an astonishing 1:53.28. It was a performance so far ahead of its time that generations of elite middle-distance runners have spent more than four decades trying—and failing—to erase it from the record books.

The longevity of the mark is no accident. Running 800 meters at world-record pace demands one of the rarest combinations in athletics: the explosive speed of a world-class 400-meter runner blended with the endurance, strength, and tactical intelligence of an elite middle-distance athlete. Few athletes in history have possessed that unique balance.

Even today, Kratochvílová sits comfortably atop one of the strongest all-time rankings in athletics history:

1. Jarmila Kratochvílová (Czech Republic) – 1:53.28 (July 26, 1983)

2. Nadezhda Olizarenko (Soviet Union) – 1:53.43 (July 27, 1980)

3. Audrey Werro (Switzerland) – 1:53.80 (June 28, 2026)

4. Pamela Jelimo (Kenya) – 1:54.01 (August 29, 2008)

5. Caster Semenya (South Africa) – 1:54.25 (June 30, 2018)

For many years, Kratochvílová's record was widely viewed as virtually untouchable. That perception, however, is beginning to change.

Swiss sensation Audrey Werro has reignited the conversation after producing a breathtaking 1:53.80 in Paris, moving into third place on the all-time list. Her performance was not only one of the fastest ever recorded but also the closest anyone has come to the world record in decades. At just the beginning of what promises to be a long career, Werro has demonstrated that the impossible may finally be within reach.

Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson also remains one of the most compelling candidates. Already an Olympic champion and one of the most consistent performers of her generation, Hodgkinson reinforced her credentials by setting the world indoor short-track record of 1:54.87. Her combination of speed, racing intelligence, and consistency suggests that an outdoor assault on the world record cannot be ruled out.

Kenya's Lilian Odira has also emerged as a genuine threat. The reigning world champion owns a personal best of 1:54.62, ranking her among the fastest women in history. She has already eclipsed Kratochvílová's long-standing championship record and continues to showcase an exceptional finishing kick that makes her dangerous in any race. If the pace is right, few athletes possess a stronger blend of championship experience and raw talent.

For 43 years, the athletics world has watched wave after wave of exceptional runners attempt to chase down one of sport's most iconic performances. Olympic champions, world champions, and record holders have all fallen short.

Yet the landscape feels different today. A new generation led by Audrey Werro, Keely Hodgkinson, and Lilian Odira is pushing the women's 800 meters to unprecedented depths. Their performances suggest that one of athletics' oldest and most celebrated records is no longer beyond imagination.

Whether Kratochvílová's 1:53.28 survives another season or another decade remains one of the sport's most fascinating questions. What is certain is that a record once considered untouchable is finally facing its most serious challenge in more than four decades.

The countdown may have already begun.

The countdown is on for the 2026 São Paulo Marathon, where an elite international field is set to battle for one of South America's most prestigious road racing titles on Sunday, July 26, in Brazil.

Ethiopia's Tulu Wami arrives carrying the fastest personal best in the field, having clocked an outstanding 2:05:19, making him the man every rival will be watching when the race gets underway. On paper, Wami stands as the favorite, but championship marathons are rarely decided by statistics alone.

Kenya will mount a formidable challenge through Denis Kipkosgei and Isaack Lelei, two accomplished marathoners eager to upset the pre-race predictions. Kipkosgei brings a personal best of 2:08:36, while Lelei has demonstrated his own consistency with a lifetime best of 2:09:32. Both possess the experience and tactical awareness to capitalize if the race turns into a battle of endurance rather than pure speed.

With three proven distance runners leading a deep and competitive field, the stage is set for an intriguing contest over the 42.195-kilometre distance. Whether the pace is aggressive from the gun or develops into a strategic duel in the closing kilometres, every move will carry significant weight.

Brazilian fans can expect an exciting spectacle as East Africa's marathon powerhouses renew one of the sport's greatest rivalries on Brazilian roads. Wami may hold the quickest credentials, but Kipkosgei and Lelei will be determined to write a different ending and take the title back to Kenya.

As anticipation builds ahead of Sunday's race, one question remains:

Will Tulu Wami justify his status as the fastest man in the field, or will Denis Kipkosgei or Isaack Lelei produce a memorable upset to claim the São Paulo Marathon crown?

Some records are broken within months. Others survive for years. Then there are the rare marks that outlive generations and become part of sporting mythology. Few achievements in athletics carry that aura more powerfully than the women’s 800 metres world record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová on July 26, 1983, in Munich.

More than four decades later, the astonishing performance still stands untouched, making it one of the oldest and most remarkable world records in track and field. In an era where training science, technology, and competition standards have advanced dramatically, that number continues to resist every challenge.

What makes the feat even more extraordinary is the story behind it. Kratochvílová was primarily known as a 400-metre specialist, not an 800-metre star. Her appearance in Munich came after a late change of plans caused by injury, and she was not even expected to headline the event. Yet when the gun fired, she produced one of the finest races ever seen.

She passed the opening lap in a fearless 56.1 seconds, surged through 600 metres in 1:26.3, and still found another devastating finish over the final bend and straight. Crossing the line in 1:53.28, she did far more than win a race—she created a benchmark that would challenge every generation to come.

That unforgettable evening crowned a sensational 1983 campaign. Weeks later, at the first-ever World Championships in Helsinki, Kratochvílová completed a rare and historic double by winning gold in both the 400 metres and the 800 metres. She also ran 47.99 for the 400m that season, becoming the first woman in history to break the 48-second barrier. Only a select few athletes, including Marita Koch, have since joined that elite company.

Her rise had already been confirmed earlier when she claimed Olympic silver in the 400 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics. Many believed even greater Olympic success awaited her, but history intervened. The boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics denied her the chance to compete on sport’s biggest stage once again.

Even after leaving competition, Kratochvílová continued shaping the sport. As a coach, she guided Ludmila Formanová to the 800m world title in 1999, proving her knowledge and influence extended well beyond her own racing career.

Her record has not escaped controversy or debate. In 2017, World Athletics proposed stricter standards for the ratification of older world records, raising questions over marks set before modern testing systems. Yet the 1:53.28 remained official, preserving one of the sport’s most famous milestones.

As of 2026, athletes continue to chase history. Among the strongest modern contenders is Keely Hodgkinson, whose rise has renewed belief that the seemingly impossible may one day fall. But until that moment arrives, Kratochvílová’s run in Munich remains the gold standard.

Whether it survives another season or another generation, one truth is certain: Jarmila Kratochvílová did not simply set a world record—she created a legend that time itself has struggled to defeat.

In the fast-evolving world of athletics, records are made to be broken — except, it seems, for one. On July 26, 1983, in Munich, Czechoslovakia’s Jarmila Kratochvílová ran an astonishing 1:53.28 in the women’s 800 meters. Four decades later, that time remains the oldest unbroken individual world record in track and field history.

It has withstood super spikes, altitude training, hyper-focused coaching, and the world’s most gifted middle-distance runners. Olympic champions like Caster Semenya and Athing Mu have come close, but none have truly threatened it. Which begs the question — how did a performance like this come to be? And should it still be recognized?

A Record Born in a Different Era

Kratochvílová’s performance came at a time when Eastern Bloc nations, including Czechoslovakia, were deep into state-sponsored sports programs. In that era, the line between elite preparation and banned enhancement was often blurred. Many athletes from that period, particularly from East Germany and the Soviet Union, have since admitted or been linked to systemic doping programs.

While there has been no formal proof that Kratochvílová used banned substances, the context raises suspicions. Her physical appearance — muscular, powerful, and more commonly compared to male counterparts than to female contemporaries — only added to the speculation. Combined with her unprecedented strength over both 400m and 800m distances, critics argue that the performance is not only unmatched, but possibly unnatural.

Why the Doubts Persist

• Performance Gap: Her time is still more than a second faster than most modern Olympic champions — a massive difference at the elite level.

• Era of Doping: Kratochvílová competed during a time when drug testing was primitive and records were often set under questionable conditions.

• Physique & Speculation: Her highly muscular build and deep voice led some to question if she should have been eligible to compete in the women’s category — though gender testing at the time did not flag her.

• Lack of Longevity: After 1983, Kratochvílová’s presence at major championships waned. Some suggest this could point to the unsustainable nature of her peak performance.

Arguments for Letting It Stand

Supporters of the record, including Kratochvílová herself, insist that the performance was clean and the result of hard work and unconventional training. She famously avoided standard intervals and instead focused on long sessions in heavy shoes and rugged conditions. No positive test exists, and the record has survived decades of scrutiny by World Athletics.

Moreover, some point out that breaking a record doesn’t validate its legitimacy — it simply reflects the evolution of training, equipment, and talent pools. If no one has broken it yet, perhaps it’s just one of those rare, generational performances that transcends time.

Should It Be Removed?

There have been proposals — including from World Athletics — to reset all pre-2005 records due to the lack of out-of-competition drug testing during earlier decades. The suggestion faced pushback, especially from record holders who never failed a test.

But the debate continues. Some believe Kratochvílová’s 1:53.28 represents a performance that belongs to a different set of rules — and therefore shouldn’t be part of the same record book as today’s achievements. Others see it as an enduring symbol of what the human body (with or without help) once accomplished.

Final Thought

Whether you view Jarmila Kratochvílová’s 800m world record as a miraculous outlier or a relic of a flawed system, one thing is certain: it has become the ultimate benchmark. Until someone runs faster — cleanly and unquestionably — the debate will rage on. And with every passing year, this 1983 run becomes less of a record and more of a legend.

Here’s how Liza Corso made the podium at the Paralympic Games by making her bike and swim workouts as intense as her running regimen.

Leading up to the 2024 Paralympic Games, Liza Corso was pedaling furiously on a stationary bike parked on the patio of her condo in Nashville, Tennessee. In the brutal summer heat, the two-time Paralympian closed her eyes while visualizing the women’s 1500-meter final.

She imagined the purple track at Stade de France and the uniforms of competitors she’s faced before in the T13 classification (athletes with vision impairment). With pop music blaring in her headphones, Corso pedaled faster in anticipation of the biggest race of her career.

On August 31, Corso’s visualizations finally came to fruition. After spending six weeks cross-training while healing a stress fracture in her left femur, the Lipscomb University senior earned bronze in 4:23.45, just over a second behind two-time Paralympic champion Tigist Mengistu of Ethiopia and silver medalist Ezzahra El Idrissi of Morocco. After the race, the athlete from Newmarket, New Hampshire, shared on Instagram she only ran eight miles over the course of six weeks in the lead-up to the event in a brutal buildup that tested her mentally and physically.

So, how did the 21-year-old pull off winning a Paralympic medal while healing from an injury and not being able to run? In an interview with Runner's World, Corso shared the many highs and lows of the cross-training regimen that helped her safely prepare for a standout performance on the world stage.

July 1-July 26: Processing the Injury

About three weeks before the U.S. Paralympic Trials on July 18-20, Corso started feeling pain in her left quad. She went to see the doctor and got an MRI in the area where her quad meets her hip, which showed she had tendonitis. After recovering from a stress fracture in her tibia during the indoor track season earlier this year, the diagnosis was a relief for Corso. “I didn’t want tendonitis, but I was scared of something [in the] bone so I was like, this is the best case scenario. I can keep running through it,” she said.

Though the pain continued to get worse leading up to the national championship in Miramar, Florida, Corso still managed to compete in the women’s 1500 meters and earn a spot on Team USA. But with the pain intensifying, Corso

Though Corso struggled to feel like she was building the same level of fitness, seeing her heart rate reach 160 beats per minute for 90-minute sessions and hover between 175 to 180 for hard workouts ended up being a source of encouragement. “My coach said, ‘Your heart doesn’t know the difference between if you’re running or if you’re biking,’” Corso said.

Late July to August 31: Monitoring the Pain

In the first two weeks after the Paralympic Trials and following her diagnosis, Corso’s main priority was to walk pain free. Working with her physical therapist, she focused on limiting any weight-bearing activity, using crutches when she wasn’t cross-training for the first three days post-diagnosis. While gradually using the crutches less and less, Corso was able to walk pain free without them about two weeks after the diagnosis.

Corso also incorporated blood flow restriction (BFR) into her training. The method involves the application of a cuff (tourniquet) proximally to the muscle that is being trained. The cuff is inflated to a specific pressure with the aim of blocking the blood vessels. The idea is to help strengthen muscles and promote healing, Corso said. She usually put the

“To be able to prove to myself that I didn’t let those [negative thoughts] win, and I chose the harder path—to keep a positive mindset and work through some pretty lonely and draining cross-training sessions—it all ended up being worth it,” she said.

Looking back on her experience this summer, Corso hopes other runners can find their own hard-fought victory amid the healing process, knowing how powerful team support and mental tools can be in difficult situations.

Canada’s most decorated male Olympian, Andre De Grasse, has been chosen by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) to carry the flag for Team Canada at the Paris 2024 opening ceremonies on July 26. On Wednesday, the COC announced that De Grasse will carry the flag alongside women’s weightlifter Maude Charron. Both are defending Olympic champions in their respective events.

De Grasse has never carried the Canadian flag at an opening or closing ceremony, and Paris marks the third time he will represent Canada at the Olympic Games. He will again be a medal contender in the men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Despite this being his third Olympics, this will be his first time attending the opening ceremony.

When asked if he would do Team Canada the honor of serving as flag bearer, De Grasse’s response was: “That would be a dream come true for me. I never thought that opportunity would ever come, you know, because of course being in track and field, we never get a chance to really go to the opening ceremony. So I mean, I’m excited just to even go and now to be the flag bearer for the country! I’m speechless–I’m trying to get the words out.”

The Markham, Ont., native has won six medals at the last two Olympic Games (one gold, two silver, and three bronze). He is the only sprinter in the world to win an individual medal in the men’s 100m at the last two Olympic Games. His 200m gold medal finish at Tokyo 2020 was the first Canadian Olympic gold on the track in 25 years and the first in the 200m in 93 years.

The 29-year-old has been a consistent podium finisher at major championships, winning a medal in every Olympic and World Championship final he competed in from 2015 until the 2023 World Championships. He finished sixth in the men’s 200m world championship final in Budapest.

De Grasse has returned to top form this season, winning his first national 100m title since 2017 at the 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials in Montreal in late June. Two weeks later, he ran his fastest 200m time of the year at the Gyulai István Memorial Continental Tour meet in Hungary, clocking his first sub-20-second time since the Diamond League final in September 2023.

He will begin his Paris 2024 campaign in the men’s 100m heats on Saturday, Aug. 3, with the men’s 200m and 4x100m events coming later in the week.

2:05 marathoner Mehdi Frère has been handed a two-year suspension for missing three doping tests within a year.

French marathon runner Mehdi Frère, recently named to France’s Olympic team for the men’s marathon, has been banned for two years for breaching anti-doping rules, his lawyer told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday. Frère’s suspension is due to a whereabouts offence (missing three doping tests within one year).

Frère’s personal best of 2:05:43 makes him the second-fastest marathoner in French history and the ninth-fastest European. He set this time at the 2023 Valencia Marathon, where he finished ninth. In May, Frère was named to the French Olympic marathon team alongside Morhad Amdouni and Nicolas Navarro. The Fédération Française d’Athlétisme (FFA) has opted for a conditional selection of Frère (instead of selecting another athlete) during the appeal process.

According to the AFP, Frère plans to appeal the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and believes a decision before the Olympics is possible. “We’ll be able to refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport as part of an accelerated procedure, to obtain an arbitration award by July 26, the opening day of the Olympics,” his lawyer told AFP.

During the appeal process, Frère is ineligible to compete, and he could face a longer ban if he loses the appeal. The men’s marathon is scheduled for Aug. 10, the penultimate day of the Paris 2024 calendar.

Frère is the latest recipient of a whereabouts suspension, which has affected some of the most high-profile distance runners this year. Spanish distance runner Mohamed Katir was suspended earlier this year, also for a whereabouts offence. Katir launched an appeal, then admitted to the wrongdoing, accepting a two-year ban–meaning he won’t be competing for his country at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has unveiled a team of 20 athletes to represent the country at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games later this month.

Over 10,000 top athletes from around the world will take part in the Games slated for July 26 to August 11 in France.

Announcing the track and field squad, UAF President Dominic Otuchet said the team boosts experienced athletes who have what it takes to win medals for the country.

“We have athletes who have been proven and tested at the big stage,” said Otuchet.

World star Joshua Cheptegei who bagged a gold and silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 will lead Uganda’s team together with half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo. The duo will battle in the 5,000m and 10,000m final.

“After getting a bronze medal at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, my target is now to improve and win a gold medal. I know it will call for a lot of hard work to be able to achieve this and I am already working hard,” says Kiplimo.

Female athlete Peruth Chemutai who won a gold medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase will also be another medal hopeful for the Ugandan team.

The team has 10 male and 10 female athletes, with another two, Belinda Chemutai and Loice Chekwemoi, on the waiting list. Besides track and field athletes, Uganda will also have two swimmers, a cyclist and a female rower.

Uganda Team:

Men:

Tarsis Gracious Orogot (200m),

Tom Dradriga (800m),

Jacob Kiplimo, Joshua Cheptegei (5,000m/10,000m),

Oscar Chelimo (5,000m),

Martin Magengo Kiprotich (10,000m),

Leonard Chemutai (3,000m SC),

Victor Kiplangat, Stephen Kissa, Andrew Rotich Kwemoi (Marathon)

Female:

Halimah Nakaayi (800m),

Winnie Nanyondo (1,500m),

Joy Cheptoyek (5,000m/10,000m),

Esther Chebet (5,000m),

Sarah Chelangat, Annet Chemengich Chelangat (10,000m), Peruth Chemutai (3,000m SC),

Stella Chesang, Rebecca Cheptegei, Mercyline Chelangat (marathon),

Reserves: Belinda Chemutai (5,000m),

Loice Chekwemoi (3,000m SC).

The 2024 Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto reckons he has polished his act satisfactorily to reap immensely at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Kipruto emphatically stated his desire to light up the French capital with a sublime performance. 

“I’m looking forward to competing in the Paris Games. Being named to the team is a great privilege and I cherish the rare chance to represent the country in the Olympics,” Kipruto stated.

“I’m ready to fight bravely for my country. I believe I’m in good shape and ready to make the nation proud in Paris,” he added.

Kipruto said the thought of being on the same team as his role model Eliud Kipchoge fascinates him a lot, adding that the double Olympic champion has always been his key source of inspiration.

The duo mske up the quintet of Kenyan male marathoners tasked with flying the country’s flag at the quadrennial global multisport showpiece set for July 26 to August 11.

Kipruto tipped Kipchoge to spearhead Kenya’s lofty hunt for a podium sweep but vowed to give him a run for his money.

“He is a brilliant athlete, one who has always inspired me a great deal. I desire to be as great as him and step into his shoes once he calls time on his career,” Kipruto remarked.

Kipruto reiterated an earlier call made by his teammates for a concerted effort, pointing out it was the only way to ensure a podium sweep.

“I believe in the strength of team effort. Away from competition, we train together reside in the same camp, and interact like a family. I don’t see what should prevent us from going for an Olympic as a team,” Kipruto stated.

He said they would do away with their pre-race favourites tag to stave off complacency, adding that it would be tactically suicidal to underrate their opponents.

Kenya will be defending the title that Kipchoge stashed away at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan and Kipruto has tipped the nation to replicate the feat in the French capital.

“We can’t afford to head to the competition with a superior mentality. I’ll appreciate that we have a solid team but we should be careful not to take our opponents for granted,” Kipruto said. “Marathon is a tricky venture and anything is bound to happen in competition,” he added.

Kipruto heads to the Games buoyed by impressive credentials as the winner of the Boston Marathon in 2021, the Chicago Marathon in 2022, and the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year.

The former Saturday Night Live cast member is a major fan of Team USA and will be covering her third Olympics as “chief super fan commentator.”

Comedian Leslie Jones will be an official commentator for the 2024 Paris Olympics, rejoining NBCUniversal’s coverage as “chief superfan commentator.” The former Saturday Night Live cast member will provide segments for a variety of events on NBC, Peacock, other NBCU channels and platforms, and will be posting updates on her own social media accounts as well. 

“I’m pumped to be heading to Paris to report on Team USA,” Jones said in a statement. “These athletes train for years to compete at the highest level, and I’m so excited to be back in the seat with NBCUniversal, cheering for Team USA and serving as chief super fan commentator. USA!! SLAY ALL DAY!! LET’S GOOOOOO!!”

Jones was first invited to become a part of NBCU’s Olympic coverage in 2016 after she live-tweeted day one of the Summer Games in Rio, offering hilarious commentary as she rooted for Team USA. She also provided commentary for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. 

Showcasing the energy, enthusiasm, and comedy Jones brings to track and field coverage, Citius Mag posted a reminder of the time in 2021 that the Ghostbusters actress recorded herself discovering the steeplechase event, spouting expletives and yelling in disbelief, “Is that like a roadblock they jumpin’ over? That’s not a hurdle! Okay, so like, they horses? I’ve never seen no sh*t like that.”

“We are excited to welcome Leslie back to our Olympic team,” said Rebecca Chatman, coordinating producer for NBC Olympics. “She is a passionate fan of Team USA, and we can’t wait to hear from her at events and sites across Paris.” The Olympics will take place from July 26 through August 11, and NBC will include live events in its daytime coverage and a mix of highlights and other segments in primetime. In an unprecedented scope of programming, Peacock will be streaming every sport, including live coverage of all 329 medal events.

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PARIS (AP) — The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics along the river Seine will be held during sunset, organizers said Friday.

It’s the first time an Olympic opening ceremony will be held outside a stadium setting, in line with the Paris organizers’ motto: “Games Wide Open.” About 10,500 athletes will parade through the heart of the French capital on boats on the Seine along a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) route.

Organizers said the open-air event will start on July 26 at 7:30 p.m. Paris time.

They said the ceremony will offer “an unprecedented experience, using the natural light of the setting sun with all its nuances to illuminate the river promenade of all the world’s best athletes along the Seine, in the heart of the capital.”

This week, the French government said tourists won’t be given free access to watch the opening ceremony over security concerns. Free access will be invitation-only instead.

Organizers had planned a grandiose opening ceremony July 26 for as many as 600,000 people, most watching free of charge from riverbanks. But security and logistical concerns — and an outcry from booksellers along the city’s picturesque quays — have led the government to progressively scale back its ambitions.

Earlier this year, the overall number of spectators was reduced to around 300,000.

On Thursday, organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games unveiled a unique addition to this year’s Olympic medals: pieces of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Each medal for the Games will incorporate a hexagonal piece of iron taken from the heart of the Eiffel Tower, Paris’s most recognizable monument.

Built for the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) in 1889 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the tower was designed to showcase France’s industrial prowess and serve as a symbol for the city. Each piece will be a focal point in the center of the medals.

Crafted by the French jeweller, Chaumet, the six-sided piece will be in the medal of all 5,084 gold, silver and bronze medals. “We wanted to offer a piece of the 1889 Eiffel Tower to all the medalists of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet.

You may be asking where did the metal come from? No, it was not cut directly off the Eiffel Tower. According to Inside The Games, the metal was sourced from a metal warehouse in Paris by the company responsible for maintaining the 330-meter landmark. The use of recycled metal is also in line with the trend seen at the Tokyo Olympics, where the metals were made partly from consumer electronics.

The reverse side of the medals will feature the Greek goddess Nike flying toward the historic Panathinaikos Stadium in Athens, a tradition since 2004. With the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Paris organizers modified the design to incorporate the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Beyond the medals, the Eiffel Tower will play a central role in the festivities at the Games. From the opening ceremony, where sports teams will sail down the River Seine, to the potential placement of the Olympic flame atop the tower, the iconic landmark will be a focal point throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which run from July 26 to Aug. 11, and the Paralympics, from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.

Former world marathon record holder Patrick Makau believes the current generation of athletes in the country will soon run under two hours in the marathon.

The 38-year-old is also notable for his half marathon performances, having won several prominent competitions in Europe in sub-1-hour performances.

Some of the races include the Berlin Half Marathon in 2007, where he clocked 58:56 hours.

Marathons had changed a lot due to technology and were far better than the marathons they ran during his time.

“As I see it, the marathons have changed a lot because it is not like the olden times. We used to view sub-two hours as something unattainable but now with the current crop of athletes like the current world record holder Kevin Kiptum and two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, this looks like a possibility,” he noted.

The signs of an athlete running a marathon in under two hours are already evident if Kipchoge and Kiptum's recent performances are anything to go by.

In an unofficial race in Vienna, Austria in 2019, Kipchoge became the first person ever to run a marathon in under two hours, clocking 1:59.40 during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

Regarded as one of the greatest marathoners of all time, Kipchoge was the world record holder in the marathon then with a time of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin. His mark was later broken by Kiptum at the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023, when he clocked 2:00:35.

The 24-year-old Kiptum is currently the only person in history to run the marathon in under two hours and one minute in a record-eligible race.

Kiptum has won all three of the major marathons he has entered between December 2022 and October 2023 with three of his times among the six fastest in history. Makau revealed that hard work and endurance were the key for him to break the world record in 2011.

“I used to go to train in Iten and Machakos and to the polishing in Ngong. This is because speed work and build-up are two different programs,” Makau noted.

Makau encouraged athletes to find a training routine that would enable them to run a sub-two-hour marathon shortly.

“What Kiptum, Kipchoge and the other athletes can do now is to find the pace that will be able to help them run a sub-two-hour marathon shortly,” he added.

The duo currently occupy the top two positions in the world marathon ranking. Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele (2:01.41), Sisay Lemma (2:01.48 hrs), Birhanu Legese (2:02.48 hrs) and Mosinet Geremew  (2:02.55 hrs) follow in that order.

The former world record holder, who currently trains the Kenya Police team and other athletes, also cited technology, especially in running shoes as a reason behind the fastest times being witnessed.

“During our time, there was not as much technology as we were accustomed to normal shoes. In today’s era,  running shoe technology plays a key role in determining the pace in a  particular race,” he said.

Innovations in Running Shoe Technology mean shoes are now lighter, more dynamic, and more resilient, thanks to advancements in foams, rubbers, construction, textiles, and other essential components.

Kipchoge's performances during the INEOS 1:59 challenge opened the world's eyes to the condensed foam, carbon-plated super shoes which Nike claimed could increase running efficiency and in particular the amount of oxygen consumed per minute by by 4 percent. 

Makau is optimistic the young athletes under his wings will also go further and make not only him but also the country proud. He said he is looking forward to the national trials in April to see if they get selected.

“We have intensified training in both Machakos and Kitui camps and I am hopeful. I am waiting for the trials in April to see if they will be able to represent Kenya at the Paris 2020 Olympic Games,” he said.

He also tipped Kenya to once again dominate the marathon at the Olympic Games slated for July 26 to August 11.

“I am sure Kipchoge, Kiptum, Peres Jepchirchir and Ruth Chepng'etich will represent the country well in the marathon at the Olympics,” he asserted. 

Reigning world 800m champion Mary Moraa is surely on a mission to make history this year as she eyes the Olympic Games in Paris, France scheduled for July 26 to August 11.

As she burns the midnight oil to ensure she makes her dreams come true, Moraa is not leaving her fans out of the mix as she keeps updating them on what she is up to.

In her recent Facebook post, she shared a video of her training at the Nyayo National Stadium and captioned the video with one of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal’s famous quotes.

The Commonwealth Games champion said: “Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you do repeatedly.”

She also added other two photos after returning to training and captioned them saying: “I really enjoyed my first track training session this season with my training regime.”

O’Neal was one of the greatest basketball players and centers of all time and Moraa recognizing him means she is on the right track.

Meanwhile, Kisii Express has made it clear that she wants to clock 1:53, the women’s 800m world record, and she is surely putting in the work.

The world record has surely stood the test of time and the world is banking on Moraa to shatter it. It was set by Jarmila Kratochvílová back in 1983.

On July 26, the Czech athlete took to the Olympiapark Meeting in Munich’s Olympic Stadium and shattered the 800m world record, clocking 1:53.28 to win the race.

Mary Moraa has promised that she will attack the 800m world record very soon.

Reigning World 800m champion Mary Moraa has promised to go for the 800m world record very soon.

In a post on her Facebook page, Moraa shared a throwback photo of herself and double world record holder Faith Kipyegon. She was in awe of Kipyegon’s record-breaking spree and noted that she is an inspiration to many people.

She said: “When you step out in style with the world's middle distance track finest Faith Kipyegon. A great inspiration. Hii 800m World Record tutavunja siku moja...hivi karibuni (We shall one day break this 800m world record…very soon).”

The women’s world record over the 800m stands at 1:53.28 and was set by Jarmila Kratochvílová 40 years ago.

She clocked the time on July 26, 1983, at the Olympiapark Meeting in Munich’s Olympic Stadium and has remained to be the oldest outdoor world record in the book.

On her part, Moraa’s Personal Best time currently stands at 1:56.03, a time she clocked to win the race at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

By winning the title, she became just but the third Kenyan woman to win the 800m on the global stage. She comes after Janeth Jepkosgei and Eunice Sum who won the titles in 2007 and 2013 respectively.

She has also been banked on severally to break the 800m world record and affirming her fans that she would surely go for it is a sign of light at the end of the tunnel.

The reigning Commonwealth Games champion is gearing up for the Olympic Games in Paris, France next year where she hopes to extend her winning streak. This season, she only lost one 800m race, the Prefontaine Classic.

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala has set a new target for the forthcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games. 

The African 100m record holder said he is targeting gold at the Paris Olympic Games as he heads into the season with great motivation.

The Paris 2024 Olympics are scheduled for July 26 to August 11 and it is expected to host 10,500 athletes.

The world number nine said this during the launch of an Athletics Centre  of Excellence at St. Joseph’s Boys national school on Monday.

The sprinter also added that his next target was to run a time of 9.66 seconds but was quick to add that he will have to work hard to attain that threshold. 

 “I am going to the Olympic season with great motivation. If you see me win that gold, be happy because it’s coming home. My next aim is to run 9.66 then after that 9.55,” he said.

Omanyala also said he would be opening a sprints school to help train young upcoming athletes so they may be able to grace the international stage.

“We are starting a school for sprints next year and I am pleased to announce that St. Joseph's will be the first benefactor of this program as we aim to help the youth horn their talents in athletics,” he noted.

The sprinter also urged young upcoming athletes to be careful of the managers they sign for, as there have been several cases of managers mistreating athletes and leading them to poverty.  

“There are those fine lines in a contract you must go through. Most athletes have suffered this fate so you have to be keen. Those little details are very important,” he said.

Omanyala came into the limelight in 2015 when he won 100m in a time of 10.37 secs during the national Olympics trials but failed to attain the qualifying standard, which was 10.16 secs at the time.

He would later on go to win the national title in 2019 and later on in March 30 2021, he set a national record of 10.01 seconds in the 100m after winning a meeting at Yabatech Sport Complex in Lagos, Nigeria.

In 2022, he won his first international championships, with victories in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games, and African Athletics Championships.

Omanyala is the African record holder and the ninth-fastest man of all time in the event after clocking a time of 9.77 seconds on September 18, 2021 in Nairobi. He is also the first Kenyan to reach the semi-finals of the 100m at the Olympics stage. 

The sprinter took part at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest,  Hungary, last August finishing seventh in the final in a time of 10.07 seconds.

Omanyala further urged young athletes to be careful of the doctors, who  they put their trust in as he has unknowingly been a victim of a doping. 

Following his doping offence in 2017, Omanyala received a 14-month suspension.

He had tested positive for the prohibited substance betamethasone, after undergoing treatment for his back injury which he incurred during training.

Athletics Kenya (AK) Trans Nzoia county official, Evans Rono urged the youth to take up athletics as it was a highly lucrative career.

“Athletics is highly paying. Omanyala runs for just nine seconds and walks away with millions. I want to challenge you to embrace athletics because it is a high paying sport."

Mark Otieno ended his doping ban earlier this year and he has his work cut out if he has to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno has officially begun his journey towards the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and has set a target to hit in order to make it to the global stage next year.

The Olympic Games are scheduled for Friday, July 26 to Sunday, August 11. In order to qualify for the showpiece, Otieno must hit the qualifying mark which stands at 10.00 by June 30 next year.

His Personal Best time currently stands at 10.05, meaning he has to put in the hard work to ensure that he hits the qualifying time for the men’s 100m.

In a post on his X (Twitter) handle, Otieno said: “Off-season training begins today, and it marks day one of my journey to the Olympics. I need to run 10.00s before June 30th, 2024.

"My personal best is 10.05s, so that means a new personal best for me to get to the Olympics. Grateful that I have a chance at redemption.”

Earlier this year, Otieno’s doping ban came to an end and he has been taking his time to come back into competitive racing.

He was banned back in 2021 during the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics hours before he stepped on the start line of the men’s 100m semifinal.

At the time, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) reported that he was banned due to the presence of the prohibited substance Methasterone in his system.

After ending his doping ban, the Kenyan has competed in one race, the 5° Meeting Brazzale in Italy, where he finished second in 10.39.

On Tuesday, under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt helped kick off the Olympic torch relay ceremony, unveiling the torch and marking 365 days until the start of the 2024 Olympic Games.

The world record holder in the men’s 100m, 200m, and 4x100m events, Bolt proudly hoisted the torch high into the air, captivating the audience with his signature lightning-bolt pose. The sight of the world’s fastest man with the symbolic torch filled the air with excitement as thousands of Parisians turned up in anticipation of the upcoming games.

“I’m happy to be here,” said Bolt, the retired sprinter. “Paris has always been a city that I enjoyed competing and hanging out in. I’m excited for the Olympics next year. I’ll be here with my family.”

During the ceremony, Bolt unveiled the Olympic torch alongside Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet. The eight-time Olympic champion was paraded through the cheering crowd of spectators, waving French flags, as he unveiled and carried the torch around.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics is scheduled for July 26, 2024, and it will be the first Olympic ceremony in history to take place outside the traditional stadium setting, on boats, along the picturesque River Seine in front of an audience of over half a million spectators. The unveiling took place on the banks of the iconic river, which also inspired the design of the torch.

“I think it’s gonna be one of the best, if not the best, opening ceremony,” said Bolt to reporters. “Imagine everybody standing outside, across the bridges cheering people up. It’s never been done before…”

The torch, crafted with lightweight polished steel and a champagne hue, boasts a remarkable design imitating the reflection of the Eiffel Tower on the rippled surface of the Seine. This creative touch aims to convey a sense of peaceful energy, reflecting the spirit of Paris and the Games.

The Olympic flame will be ignited on April 16, 2024, in the ancient city of Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Games, symbolizing the beginning of the torch’s journey to Paris. The torch relay will pass through various French cities and landmarks, including the Pantheon in Paris and the picturesque Mont Saint-Michel, before the torch is passed to some of France’s overseas territories.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended Kenya's Nicholas Kosimbei for the presence/use of prohibited substance Trimetazidine.

The 26-year-old and the 2014 world U-20 10,000m bronze medalist has been served with the notice over the allegation as investigations continue.

According to AIU, a provisional suspension is when an athlete or other person is suspended temporarily from participating in any competition or activity in athletics prior to a final decision at a hearing conducted under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct.

Kosimbei joins a list of 15 other athletes including compatriot Purity Changwony who was provisionally suspended on July 26, 2022 after testing positive for 19-Norandrosterone, Triamcinolone acetonide.

This suspension adds to the list of 25 Kenyan athletes suspended by AIU and Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya since 2022.

The Territorial Contact Brigade Louvre - Paris Centre, the only roller-skating police unit in France, is to be used for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of its security operations.

Its nine skaters are to be mobilised during the Games as part of a "zero-crime Olympics" plan.

Three team members - Gaël, Antoine and Basile - spoke to French publication 20 Minutes, explaining where they usually patrol on their rollerblades.

Usually, their group visit tourist spots such as Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Hôtel de Ville and Place Vendôme.

"Most of the time, passersby are curious, rarely disrespectful," said Gaël to 20 Minutes.

Basile and Antoine added that photos with the public are common when on patrol.

"This direct contact with fluid and friendly people is really a plus of our job," added Antoine.

However, during the Games, their role will not change significantly, as explained by their head of the team.

"Their priority mission and the reason for which it was imagined in 2001, is the security of tourist sites and the fight against crime linked to tourist phenomena, namely street vendors, pickpockets and against all scams that can affect tourists, such as hat players, petition scams," said Captain Soulié.

"The goal is to be present in a given sector and to show up to dissuade potential perpetrators of offenses from committing their misdeeds, as well as to reassure the population."n October, French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, said the aim was for a "zero-crime Olympics".

Security has been a key talking point in recent months, with festival organisers being concerned of the status of their events due to the extra forces needed for the Games.

Major festivals such as Lollapalooza and Rock en Seine are still hang in the balance.

Approximately 35,000 police officers and gendarmes are expected to be used at the public-focused Opening Ceremony, with the rest of the Games needing around 30,000 on average.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 next year, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

The Refugee Olympic Team (EOR) will have a base in Kenya to prepare for the next year's Olympic Games in Paris, with eight athletes set to train in the North Rift of the country.

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has worked with the United Nations High Commission of Refugees and Athletics Kenya to find athletics training bases starting this month, with these visits led by its President Paul Tergat.

Kenya hosted five EOR athletes prior to Rio 2016 - all from South Sudan - with another four coming to the country from the same nation ahead of Tokyo 2020.

During a visit, the NOC head praised the work of Olympian and former women's marathon world-record holder Tegla Loroupe for their work in including refugees into sports programmes, like this one.

"The first batch of the athletes competed during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Loroupe was the Chef de Mission of the [EOR] Team," said Tergat, the double Olympic 10,000 metres silver medallist, according to Kenyan publication The Star.

"We are very proud of the work and achievements that Loroupe, through her Foundation, has done in giving opportunities to these athletes."

This time, eight athletes are set to be at the training base.

Anjelina Nadai Lohalith is hoping to compete in her third Olympic Games as part of the EOR team with the South Sudanese athlete ready to race the women's 1500m again.

Dominic Lokolong, also from the country that spent seven years officially in a civil war, is to race the men's 1500m at his first Games.

Kun Waar and Rose Ihisa, competing in the men's and women's 400m respectively and originally from South Sudan, are on the team; as are their compatriots John Lokibe and Josephine Tein in the men's and women's 800m.

Emmanuel Ntagunga of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is to enter the men's 5,000m, while Gasto Nsazumukiza, also from this country, is the only member of the EOR team in Kenya who will not compete in athletics.

Nsazumukiza is set to compete in taekwondo.

NOC-K secretary general Francis Mutuku promised they would continue working with the refugees throughout the build-up to Paris 2024.

"The Refugee Team will now be working under NOC-K and we want to ensure that we get a good place for their training and produce proper results," said Mutuku.

"These athletes will fly the International Olympic Committee flag.

"We are not just looking at training camps but a good place for them to train. 

"We are working hand in hand with Athletics Kenya and UNHCR to ensure that they perform well."

Parties visited the Complete Sports in Kaptagat, Lornah Kiplagat High Altitude Performance Centre in Iten, Kipchoge Keino facility and Ndura Sports Complex in Kitale as part of its training camp inspections.

The Paris 2024 Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 2024, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

With tomorrow marking two years until the Olympics are due to begin in the French capital, concerns are mounting on preparations from a security and financial point of view.

AFP has reported that the Organising Committee's estimated budget for the Games has risen to €4 billion (£3.4 billion/$4.1 billion), with a source commenting: "Everything is very tight concerning the budget."

According to the unnamed source, the extent of the difficulties are expected to become clearer later this year.

Solideo, the public body charged with overseeing infrastructural projects for Paris 2024, also has a reported budget of €4 billion (£3.4 billion/$4.1 billion).

Inflation in France reached its highest level since 1991 last month, although remains lower than many other European countries.

Consumer prices rose by 5.8 per cent in the 12 months until June.

Tickets for the Games go on sale in December, and one premium partnership slot remains vacant, although it has been reported that there are hopes it could be filled by luxury goods company LVMH.

At the International Olympic Committee Session in Lausanne in May, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet conceded that the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine "caused major breakdowns in production and supply chains", and "generated an inflationary environment which was impossible to anticipate just a few months or weeks ago".

Budgetary issues are expected to be one of the topics examined when French President Emmanuel Macron meets other key Ministers at the Élysée Palace to discuss Paris 2024 today.

A French Presidential official told AFP that the meeting offers an opportunity "to take note of where there are weaknesses".

Concerns over security have escalated since Paris 2024 venue, the Stade de France, held the UEFA Champions League Final in May.

The match was marred by chaotic scenes which led to a delayed kick-off, led to widespread criticism of the French authorities and police, and prompted a warning in a French Senate report earlier this month that the Government and relevant bodies would be required to "draw the necessary lessons".

There are plans for around 600,000 people to watch the Opening Ceremony along the River Seine, but a police source cited in a AFP report warned that it would not be possible to secure the "nearly 7,000 officers" required, with a shortfall in the 24,000 required private security guards another stumbling block.

The Olympics in the French capital are due to run from July 26 until August 11 2024, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 until September 8.

Paris 2024 has announced the Seine will serve as the venue of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, with athletes set to travel in boats during a six-kilometre route during the spectacle.

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet had suggested the river was under consideration to host the city-centre Opening Ceremony back in March.

Estanguet confirmed at a press conference today that the Paris 2024 Board and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had approved the location.

The three-time Olympian said the objective was to make the Opening Ceremony more open to everyone, with estimates predicting 10 times more spectators will be able to watch the event compared to its typical stadium setting.

Paris 2024 say thousands of spectators will be able to attend the Opening Ceremony for free, while ticketed zones will also be in operation.

Around 600,000 people are expected to be watch the Ceremony in the capital city.

Organisers say the Seine will be a “runway for athletes”, with delegations set to travel on around 170 boats down the river.

The route will begin at the Pont d'Austerlitz, the bridge located close to the French national library.

The Pont d'Iéna marks the event of the route, with the bridge located next to the Eiffel Tower.

The Trocadéro Gardens will host the finale of the Opening Ceremony, having been the location of the live site during the handover at the conclusion of the Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony earlier this year.

Estanguet said the six-kilometre route would allow for full immersion into Paris, with landmarks including the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde featuring.

The Paris 2024 President said the location would allow organisers to blend the existing background of the capital with modern creations, claiming the concept provided organisers with “unlimited potential” with what they can achieve artistically.

Artistic direction of the Ceremony is expected to be defined at a later date.

Suggestions include a floating orchestra and projections, with spectators potentially watching from stands on screens located on the water.

Estanguet said Paris 2024 would look to implement ideas used during their previous Olympic Day celebrations, where sporting events have been held within the French capital.

Paris 2024 say 50 meetings have been held with security experts since the start of 2021 on the concept.

It is claimed that no security obstacles have been identified so far.

The Opening Ceremony is scheduled to take place on July 26 in 2024, with the Olympics running until August 11.

“On 26 July 2024, a truly spectacular Opening Ceremony will mean the eyes of the world are on the city, proudly promoting the values of Olympism," said Anne Hidalgo, Paris Mayor.

“The ambitious project, which is the result of intensive collaboration between hundreds of stakeholders, will bring joy to Parisians, Île-de-France residents and tourists alike.

“This Opening Ceremony will mark the history of the Games.

“For the first time ever, rather than being contained in the stadium, it will take place in the heart of the capital.

“Along the quays and bridges of the Seine, against this grand and unique backdrop, the athletes will be carried by a majestic flotilla of boats.

“The ceremony will be accessible to one and all.

“The choice to launch the Paris Games on the Seine is a bold one, which is part of a long-term strategy.

“Beginning with the opening of the embankments to pedestrians in 2016, the idea is to give Parisians and local residents back their river banks, to walk along, engage in sports, or simply admire the beautiful surroundings.

“The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will mark the beginning of a new chapter in this story, with swimming in the Seine itself.”

IOC President Thomas Bach has been a supporter of the idea of a city-centre Opening Ceremony.

This followed the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics, which saw an Opening Ceremony held on the Avenida 9 de Julio in the Argentinian capital.

Bach said Paris 2024 has recognised the opportunity and challenges of the city-centre spectacle, but expressed his confidence that organisers would be able to hold the event with the security precautions required.

"This Ceremony will be an exceptional experience for all the athletes taking part, but also, and above all, for the people of Paris, for France and for the whole world," Bach said.

"We started discussing this ‘Seine’ option with the Paris 2024 team and its President, Tony Estanguet, after the great success of the Opening Ceremony of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

“There, over 200,000 people gathered around the iconic Obelisk monument.

“We were all inspired by this magical moment, but we also recognised the challenges it could create.

“Today, I am happy that the French authorities on all levels have carefully considered this opportunity and come to the conclusion this will happen, under the premise of all necessary security precautions.

“The IOC has full confidence in the creativity, flexibility and sense of innovation demonstrated, from the beginning, by the Paris 2024 team.

“They will ensure that the Opening Ceremony is a truly unique and emotional Olympic experience for the athletes, who will be surrounded by the public, being welcomed and celebrated by the French people.

“It will be a spectacular spectacle on the Seine.”

The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee announced today that the popular river Seine that runs through Paris will serve as the venue to host the 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony. Athletes are set to travel on a six-kilometre route by boat, as the general public cheers on from the river banks of the Seine.

“The objective was to make the opening ceremony accessible to everyone,” said Tony Estanguet, the Paris 2024 President, in a press conference. Estanguet suggested the idea to hold the opening ceremony on the river back in March.

The location for the ceremony was approved today by the Paris 2024 Board and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Since the ceremony is outdoors, the host nation predicts that 10 times more spectators will have access to and watch the event. This is the first time in recent Olympic history that an opening or closing ceremony will be held in an accessible public space.

The Paris 2024 organizing committee plans on having over 600,000 spectators able to attend the opening ceremony free of charge.

If you are looking for front-row seats on the Seine, they will come at a cost. Organizers mentioned that popular viewing points on the river will be operating in paid ticketed zones.

The concept is a boat party and parade with delegations and athletes set to travel down the river on 170 boats The route will begin at the Pont d’Austerlitz, which is close to the French National Library. The Trocadéro Gardens will mark the end of the opening ceremony. The location was the site of the handover celebration during the conclusion of the Tokyo 2020 closing ceremony.

Paris organizing officials mentioned that they had 50 meetings with top security experts since they developed the concept, with no security obstacles identified so far.

The Paris 2024 opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on July 26, 2024, with the Olympics running until Aug. 11. The Paris Games will also mark the first time that the Olympics will host a marathon for the general public on the same course as the Olympic Marathon.

Telecommunications operator Orange is to sponsor the mass-participation marathon at the Paris 2024, where the general public will be able to run an Olympic marathon course on the same day as elite athletes for the first time.

Orange was announced as the third premier partner of Paris 2024 last year, after linking up with the Games in 2016. 

The company will now sponsor the mass-participation marathon due to be staged on the Olympic course on the same day as the elite Olympic race, it was announced by Orange chief executive Stéphane Richard at a conference at the Café de l'Homme in Paris.

"Orange has joined the Paris 2024 Olympic adventure with a desire to give as many people as possible all the emotions of this historic event," Richard said. 

"By becoming a sponsor of the Marathon For All, we want to give all the athletes the possibility to become part of these Games and achieve their dream."

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet said: "Two years ago, we announced a brand new marathon in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games: to enable amateur sportspeople to run in the footsteps of the Paris 2024 Olympic athletes, along the same route, on the same day and under the same conditions. 

"We’re delighted that our partner Orange is accompanying us on this wonderful 42 kilometers adventure! 

"We’ll soon be seeing you for an exceptional first experience."

Orange communications and engagement executive director Béatrice Mandine said the mass-participation event gives "more visibility to the Orange brand."

"We worked with the Paris 2024 teams to find the best options for Orange," Madine added.

"And here we are, we are the first, and perhaps not the last, partner of the marathon for all. 

"As a sponsor, we offer the general public the opportunity to participate in the legendary event of the Olympic Games."

Orange has also signed partnerships with five major races - Marseille-Cassis, the Paris Marathon and Paris Half Marathon, the Mont Saint-Michel Marathon and Run in Lyon.

The Paris 2024 Olympics are set to begin on July 26 and close on August 11.

The men's marathon is traditionally held on the final day of the Olympics.

A fire was discovered in Sapporo's Odori Park, start and finish point of the Tokyo Olympics women's and men's marathons. Smoke was seen coming from a stump in the park. Three days ago, another stump was found burning suspiciously in Nakajima Park near the marathon course's southernmost point.

Police received a call reporting the burning stump at around 10:00 a.m. on July 29. One of the people who helped put the fire out said, "The smoke was heavy and the fire wouldn't go out even when we poured water on it." Afterward the stump, located behind a public restroom in the Odori Park, appeared charred and blackened.

Several cigarette butts were found at the site, which is to host the Tokyo Olympic Games marathons on Aug. 7 and 8. On the evening of July 26 the other suspicious fire occurred outside the Hokkaido Prefectural Museum of Literature along the marathon course in Nakajima Park. A tree stump next to the sidewalk in front of the museum was found to be burning.

A race walking mixed team event is set to make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024, following confirmation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board that it will be the mixed-gender contest added to the athletics programme.

The IOC Executive Board previously decided that the number of athletics events should stay at 48 for Paris - which led to the men's 50-kilometre race walk being dropped in favour of a mixed-gender event in the quest for gender equality.

World Athletics and the IOC have agreed that this will be a race walking event, although the competition format - including the distance and the number of athletes in each team - has not been chosen yet.

A proposal for the format is due to be presented to the IOC Executive Board in December.

The Executive Board has also approved World Sailing's proposal to scrap the mixed kiteboarding event and instead have men's and women's contests.

This was World Sailing's first alternative option in place of mixed offshore, which was removed from the programme after concerns were raised by the IOC.

These included additional broadcasting costs and the field-of-play security.

Sailing will maintain 10 medal events, with kiteboading - set for an Olympic debut at Paris 2024 - now accounting for two of them.

Additionally, the IOC Executive Board approved the new competition format for modern pentathlon, which is set to be based in one venue.

As proposed by the International Modern Pentathlon Union, this 90-minute competition begins with riding, followed by the fencing bonus round and swimming, before closing with the laser-run.

Breaks of between five and 15 minutes will occur between each discipline.

The equestrian leg lasts 20 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of fencing, 10 minutes of swimming and 15 minutes for the laser-run.

The Paris 2024 Olympics, scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, will be the first fully gender-balanced Games, with exactly 50 per cent male and female participation, says the IOC.

In 2019, Nick Butter became the first person to complete a marathon in every country of the world.

The gruelling challenge took him from North Korea to El Salvador, across war zones and freezing temperatures. At one point he was bitten by a dog and mugged.

Nick's latest feat is unlikely to take him to such extremes, as he'll be running along the coast of Britain - but he will be attempting to complete two marathons a day.

Starting at the Eden Project on Saturday April 17, Nick will run for 14 hours each day to cover 52.4 miles (a double marathon), every day for 100 days.

He will run 5,240 miles in total, ending up where he began at the Eden Arena on Monday July 26.

I honestly don't know if I can do it but we're going to give it a go. He says.

Nick will be supported by a team of five people across three camper vans.

The first will hold his support team, keeping him safe and fed, the second will be his media crew and the third will be his home on the road. It will be driven by Nick's girlfriend Nikki and their dog Poppy will also join them.

When Nick ran across the world, he did it in aid of Prostate Cancer UK after a fellow ultra runner, Kevin Webber, was diagnosed with the disease.

He has so far raised more than £140,000.

For his 2021 challenge, he has set up The 196 Foundation. Its title comes from the 196 countries across the world and reflects all the needs across the planet.

Each year it will support one cause, voted on by the foundation's donors. It could be anything from buying a wheelchair for a family to building a school.

The 30-year-old hopes to be joined by other runners along the route. "We'd love to have some company and people to come and keep me company for the 100 days," Nick said.

"When I'm running for 11 hours a day, getting through 9,000 calories, I need all the help I can get".

Club Paris 2024 is offering 100 spots in the public marathon being held alongside the Paris 2024 Olympics to women, in an effort to boost gender balance at the event.

The membership club associated with Paris 2024 is offering entry to the marathon to those who collect 700 points by March 31.

Every kilometer run from March 8 until this date will give a person 10 points, with those running 70km reaching the target.

Walking 1km will give you five points, swimming 1km awards 40 points and cycling 1km is worth 2.5 points.

For other activities, one minute of sport will earn one point.

Club Paris 2024 requires women to collect the points by the deadline and enter their gender to be part of the draw.

An identity card may be requested.

From April 1 to 7, a raffle will be conducted, drawing 100 winners and 50 alternates.

Just 27 per cent of participants in the 2019 Paris Marathon were women, which is why Club Paris 2024 has launched this scheme.

The Paris 2024 Olympics are scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11 in 2024, with the schedule yet to be announced for athletics.

The marathon finish is set to be the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and the mass-participation race will offer members of the public the chance to run the same course on the same day as Olympic athletes.

Le Club Paris 2024 is backed by AliExpress, which is offering clients the opportunity to earn an additional 500 points for each challenge completed, using the code "AliExpressParis2024".

"We are really delighted about our partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, which is aimed at promoting the sporting values to which we are particularly attached at AliExpress," said Christina Lu, head of marketing for AliExpress. 

"The benefits of sports practice no longer need to be demonstrated, and we hope that our collaboration with Le Club Paris 2024 will make people want to practice physical activity on a regular basis."

Alibaba, a member of The Olympic Partner worldwide sponsorship programme since 2017, is the parent company of AliExpress and one of the most important International Olympic Committee sponsors.

Cross-country hasn't been included in the Olympics since the 1924 Games

World Athletics has announced plans to include a cross-country mixed relay event in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Cross-country hasn’t been featured in the Olympics for almost a century, and it was last included in the 1924 Olympics, which were also in Paris. If the Paris 2024 organizing committee and World Athletics can work out a plan for the mixed relay, cross-country will make its return to the Games 100 years since its last competition and in the same city.

The event would feature 15 countries, and each team would be made up of four runners (two men and two women). The race would be 20K, and the teams would alternate between male and female runners, with each athlete covering two laps of a 2.5K course.

The president of World Athletics Sebastian Coe has expressed his excitement for a potential Olympic cross-country event. “My love for athletics began with cross-country,’’ he said. “When I joined my first athletics club, Hallamshire Harriers, the club president was Joe Williams, who ran in the last Olympic cross-country race in Paris in 1924. It would be hugely symbolic for this wonderful athletic discipline to return to the fold after a century.”

As of July 26, the Paris Games are just four years away, and an additional running event would be welcome news for Olympic hopefuls around the world. World Athletics officials and Paris 2024 organizers will reportedly meet soon to discuss more details for the prospective relay.

Cross-country hasn't been included in the Olympics since the 1924 Games.

World Athletics has announced plans to include a cross-country mixed relay event in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Cross-country hasn’t been featured in the Olympics for almost a century, and it was last included in the 1924 Olympics, which were also in Paris.

If the Paris 2024 organizing committee and World Athletics can work out a plan for the mixed relay, cross-country will make its return to the Games 100 years since its last competition and in the same city.  

The event would feature 15 countries, and each team would be made up of four runners (two men and two women). The race would be 20K, and the teams would alternate between male and female runners, with each athlete covering two laps of a 2.5K course. 

The president of World Athletics Sebastian Coe has expressed his excitement for a potential Olympic cross-country event. “My love for athletics began with cross-country,’’ he said. “When I joined my first athletics club, Hallamshire Harriers, the club president was Joe Williams, who ran in the last Olympic cross-country race in Paris in 1924. It would be hugely symbolic for this wonderful athletic discipline to return to the fold after a century.” 

As of July 26, the Paris Games are just four years away, and an additional running event would be welcome news for Olympic hopefuls around the world. World Athletics officials and Paris 2024 organizers will reportedly meet soon to discuss more details for the prospective relay.

We have all been watching as the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to evolve and affect every aspect of our lives right now. In order to prevent the spread of the illness and to not overwhelm the healthcare system around the world, governments have taken a wide array of measures including limiting large scale events.

The City and County of San Francisco has led the charge and helped flatten the curve, yet there is still more to be done and the health and safety of our participants, staff and volunteers is always our first priority. Following further discussions with the City and County of San Francisco, we have made the decision to reschedule the San Francisco Marathon to November 15, 2020. We are grateful for the support of the City and County for their flexibility and assistance in selecting this new date to ensure our runners can still enjoy this iconic City event. We are working to implement new race day safety measures that we will share over the coming months.

Two and a half years ago, Erin Menefee didn’t know if she’d be able to run competitively again after having open heart surgery. But on December 8, the 27-year-old physical therapist realized her dream when she qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials at the California International Marathon (CIM) in Sacramento with a time of 2:43:10.

Surrounded by dozens of other women who qualified for the first time, Menefee basked in the accomplishment of a goal that motivated her throughout the long recovery. For the first time since she underwent surgery for a rare congenital heart defect in July 2017, she ran a personal best by more than eight minutes.

Setting a lifetime PR that beat the Trials standard by almost two minutes wasn’t just a running milestone for the San Diego native—it was a turning point in her life.

“Not having the definition of ‘post-heart surgery PR’ for this one just feels like a big weight [has been] lifted,” Menefee told Runner’s World. “I’m finally back to who I was before.”

Menefee was nearing the end of a long run in December 2015 when her heart started beating at an alarmingly fast pace and pain shot down her left arm. At just 24 years old, the former collegiate runner for the University of Arizona thought she was having a heart attack. Menefee could barely breathe, but she managed to get herself to the emergency room.

After a series of tests, her cardiologist discovered that she had partial anomalous pulmonary venous return, a condition where the veins that are supposed to carry blood to the heart’s upper left chamber instead carry it to the heart’s upper right chamber, or to other blood vessels. When this happens, poorly-oxygenated blood mixes with oxygen-rich blood, thus robbing the body of oxygen. The diagnosis meant that Menefee was only getting about 60 percent of the oxygen needed from her lungs to her body.

Because she was a healthy, young runner competing at a high level, the doctors decided to forgo the surgery option for periodic check-ups on the size of her heart. Eight months later, Menefee was getting lightheaded standing up from a chair and the tips of her fingers turned blue from the lack of oxygen traveling to the rest of her body. When she went in for more tests, they discovered that her heart was so enlarged that it required surgery.

On July 26, 2017—after she graduated from San Diego State University’s doctor of physical therapy program and days after she took her board exams—Menefee went in for surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. During the nine-hour procedure, doctors built a stent and moved her vein into its proper place from her heart to her lung. In order to reach her organs, they had to saw open her sternum.

The surgery was a success, and six weeks later, Menefee was cleared to go on her first run: an 8:49 mile.

Just five months before her surgery, Menefee had made her 26.2 debut at the 2017 Los Angeles Marathon, finishing in 2:51:31—within striking distance of 2:45:00, the 2020 Trials time standard. She trained for the marathon with the San Diego-based Prado Racing Team under Paul Wellman.

Are you skeptical about whether drinking electrolyte beverages helps with muscle cramps? New evidence says it doesn’t prevent muscle cramping, but that it does reduce your susceptibility.

It’s well established that we sweat out electrolytes during exertion, and the more we sweat, the more we lose. Moreover, the loss of electrolytes is believed to contribute to muscle cramping, which plagues many endurance runners. This study was designed to shed more light on the role of electrolyte drinks in reducing and controlling muscle cramps.

The study by four US researchers, published in the journal Muscle & Nerve on July 26, is admittedly small (nine well-hydrated, cramp-prone subjects), but suggests the use of electrolyte beverages does help, to some degree.

The study assessed the test group’s cramp susceptibility before and after drinking an electrolyte beverage containing 840 mg of sodium, 320 mg of potassium, and 5 mg of magnesium. The control group drank a placebo beverage that was indistinguishable in taste and appearance from the test group’s drink.

The intensity of cramps was measured using a verbal pain scale and electromyography, and researchers assessed the runners’ susceptibility by measuring the nerve stimulation threshold frequency.

Here’s what they found: cramps still happened, but cramping came later and less frequently in the electrolyte group than the placebo group. Electromyography showed similar results between the two groups, but the electrolyte group reported less pain verbally than the placebo group.

The study considered electrolyte consumption independently of hydration.

The Mumbai Marathon, in its 17th year, is scheduled to be held on January 19, 2020, the race organisers announced on Wednesday.

Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao signed up as the first participant for the marathon, which was first held in 2004 and since then has been an annual affair in the megacity.

Maharashtra ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar and Ashish Shelar were present on the occasion at the Raj Bhawan.

The registrations for the full marathon would open on July 26 and close on November 29, while registrations for the half marathon are to begin on August 1 and conclude on August 30, according to race organisers Procam International.

Rao, while making a mention of sprinter Hima Das who recently clinched five gold medals in various international meets, said that since coming to Maharashtra he has attended all editions of the Mumbai Marathon.

“The journey of Mumbai Marathon for the past 16 years has been truly spectacular. First and foremost, Mumbai Marathon has created health and fitness consciousness among the people. The Tata Mumbai Marathon has importantly created a level playing field for all,” the governor said.

Shelar, on his part, said that people can see from the marathon that Mumbai actually runs, in reference to the popular saying that Mumbaikars are always on their toes.

Shelar, who recently took charge as the sports minister, assured that there will be more participants for the coming marathon.

The organisers are aiming to get 50,000 participants for the race.

Getting under 48 seconds in the 400 meters is not an extraordinary time for a professional runner but it is for a 13-year-old boy. Mekhi Gammons, an American kid born on July 26, 2005, won his AAU Club Championships race last weekend with an incredible record of 47.86.

To understand the stratospheric record of this teenager, the world record set in 2016 by South African Wayde van Niekerk is 43.03 and the best this season, run by American Michael Norman, is 43.45, so Gammons is just a little more than four seconds slower.

Gammons, runs for the team Miami Gardens Xpress Track and Field Club. 

Mekhi Gammons was very close to the U-18 world record, which since this season belongs to the American Justin Robinson with 44.84.