Athing Mu, the defending champion in women’s 800m will no longer be defending her gold medal, as the US mid-distance racer went to hell and couldn’t come back at the U.S. trials after suffering a fall in the first meters of the final. In her absence, Brits Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie will battle it out with Kenya’s Mary Moraa for the Olympic gold. In men’s race, Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati and Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi stand out as the favourites, while European champion Gabriel Tual will seek the greatest honour before home crowd. As for women’s 1500m, it’s Faith Kipyegon’s world and the rest are just living in it. Australia’s Jessica Hull and Ireland’s Ciara Mageaan, who is coming to Paris with the boost of a European title, are among major medal contenders. On the men’s side, Jakob Ingebrigtsen will attempt a title defense, a feat only achieved by Seb Coe 40 years ago.
THE DEFENDERS
800m M: Emmanuel Korir, Kenya
800m W: Athing Mu, USA
1500m M: Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Norway
1500m W: Faith Kipyegon, Kenya
SEASON LEADERS – SINCE LAST GAMES
800m Men
2022 Emmanuel Korir (KEN) 1:43.26
2023 Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) 1:42.80
2024 Djamel Sedjati (ALG) 1:41.56
800m Women
2022 Athing Mu (USA) 1:56.30
2023 Athing Mu (USA) 1:54.97
2024 Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) 1:55.78
1500m Men
2022 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:29.02
2023 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:27.14
2024 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:29.74
1500m Women
2022 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:50.37
2023 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:49.11 WR
2024 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:49.04 WR
THE RECORDS
800m Men
WR: David Rudisha (KEN) 1:40.91 – 2012
OR: David Rudisha (KEN) 1:40.91 – 2012
Euro: Wilson Kipketer (DEN) 1:41.11 – 1997
Africa: David Rudisha (KEN) 1:40.91 – 2012
Asia: Yusuf Saad Kamel (BRN) - 1:42.79 - 2008
NACAC: Donovan Brazier (USA) 1:42.34 – 2019
Oceania: Joseph Deng (AUS) 1:43.99 - 2023
South America: Joaquim Cruz (BRA) 1:41.77 - 1984
800m Women
WR: Jarmila Kratochvilova (TCH) 1:53.28 – 1983
OR: Nadezhda Olizarenko (URS) 1:53.43 – 1980
Euro: Jarmila Kratochvilova (TCH) 1:53.28 – 1983
Africa: Pamela Jelimo (KEN) 1:54.01 – 2008
Asia: Dong Liu (CHN) 1:55.54 - 1993
NACAC: Ana Fidelia Quirot (CUB) 1:54.44 – 1989
Oceania: Catriona Bisset (AUS) 1:57.78 - 2023
South America: Letitia Vrieste (SUR) 1:56.68 - 1995
1500m Men
WR: Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:26.00 – 1998
OR: Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:28.32 – 2021
Euro Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:27.14 – 2023
Africa: Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:26.00 – 1998
Asia: Rashid Ramzi (BRN) 3:29.14 - 2006
NACAC: Yared Nuguse (USA) 3:29.02 – 2023
Oceania: Oliver Hoare (AUS) 3:29.41 - 2023
South America: Hudson Santos de Souza (BRA) 3:33.25 - 2005
1500m Women
WR: Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:49.04 – 2024
OR: Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:53.11 – 2021
Euro: Sifan Hassan (NED) 3:51.95 - 2019
Africa: Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:49.04 – 2024
Asia: Yunxia Qu (CHN) 3:50.46 - 1993
NACAC: Shelby Houlihan (USA) 3:54.99 – 2019
Oceania: Jessica Hull (NZL) 3:50.83 - 2024
South America: Letitia Vriesde (SUR) 4:05.67 - 1991
THE RACE
OLYMPIC DOUBLES (800-1500m)
2004 W – Kelly Holmes (GBR)
1996 W – Svetlana Masterkova (RUS)
1976 W – Tatyana Kazankina (URS)
1964 M – Peter Snell (NZL)
1920 M – Albert Hill (GBR)
1908 M – Mel Sheppard (USA)
1904 M – Jim Lightbody (USA)
1896 M – Edwin Flack (AUS)
TITLE DEFENCES
800m Men
David Rudisha (KEN), 2012-16
Peter Snell (NZL), 1960-64
Mal Whitfield (USA), 1948-52
Douglas Lowe (GBR), 1924-28
1500m Men
Sebastian Coe (GBR), 1980-84
800m Women
Caster Semenya (RSA), 2012-16
1500m Women
Faith Kipyegon (KEN), 2016-20
Tatyana Kazankina (URS), 1976-80
CLOSEST FINISHES
800m M: 1972 Wottle-Arzhanov 0.03 secs
800m W: 2004 Holmes-Benhassi 0.05 secs
1500m M: 1976 Walker-Van Damme 0.10 secs
1500m W: 2000 Merah-Benida – Beclea-Szekely 0.05 secs
BIGGEST GAP AT THE FINISH
800m M: 1908 Sheppard-Lungi 1.4 secs
800m W: 1968 Manning-Silai 1.6 secs
1500m M: 1968 Keino-Ryun 2.9 secs
1500m W: 1988 Ivan- Baikauskaite 6.28 secs
NOTES
> The last time an athlete outside of Kenya won the 800m men’s gold was in 2004, when Yuriy Borzakovskiy crossed the finish line first in Athens.
> In women’s 800m, 2004 was the last time a British athlete (Kelly Holmes) was crowned. Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie will attempt to change that.
> Ciara Mageean will seek to be the first Irish athlete to win a 1500m medal at the Olympic Games since Ronald Delany won gold in 1956.
> Djamel Sedjati, Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Gabriel Tual all dipped under 1:41 at the same race during the Diamond League meet in Paris, marking a first in history.
> Faith Kipyegon looks set to be the first athlete in history to achieve a three-peat in the mid-distance races at the Olympic Games.
