Budapest 2023: Several Girls Aiming for the Double

After knowing a few hours ago the absence of the North American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin for the World Athletics Championship some fans showed their discontent, but I recommend seeing the glass half full and not half empty: in the appointment of Budapest 2023 several athletes will try to get doubles and that is always attractive.

McLaughlin herself perhaps had something like that in mind for Paris 2024 in 400 meters and 400 hurdle race, but it will be the Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas, the Kenyan Faith Kipyegon and the North American Athing Mu who will try to win double gold medals in the Hungarian competition, if they achieve it, they will surely try to repeat it at the gala.

Let’s recall that Yulimar wanted to do it in the last world competition, but when she classified in long jump with non-regulatory shoes she had to settle for winning the triple jump again.

"I am a woman of challenges," said the South American by announcing her decision to seek the gold in both jumps in Paris 2024.

Although her stats are a relatively modest 6.88 meters, it’s known that she rises before the challenges and she will be a tough rival for long jump specialists.

The task is going to be simpler for Kipyegon, who proved to be more than ready for the double of 1500 and 5000 meters, as she beat both world records in 2023, before even stepping on the track in an important championship.

The twice 1500 Olympic Champion became the first woman to break the 3:50 mark in the distance with a new time of 3: 49.11 at the Diamond League of Florence, Italy, but the biggest surprise came only eight days later, when the 29 -year -old mother marked 14: 05.20 to establish a new world record for the 5000 meter, although she has rarely run that distance.

On the one hand, Mu will try the double win in the 800 and 1500 flat meters, but in the latter she will have precisely Kipyegon as the main competitor. The Olympic and World champion in the 800 flat meters will have to be significantly overcome, but it’s already a duel worthy of the World Competition.

Among men there will also be attempts to win doubles, and so far, the North American Noah Lyles, current 200-meter world champion, which will also try to win in the 100 meters.

After beating a couple of times in the curve, he now wants to dominate the straight line and with his personal record on 9.86 seconds he really has great chances. However, he doesn’t overlook his favorite competition. “You have to aim for the stars to land on the moon, as they say. This is the time to say: we are going for the world record, ”said optimistic about the stratospheric level of 19.19 seconds of the Jamaican Usain Bolt, a record he has approached with his 19.31.

In turn, the Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigttsen, current Olympic champion in 1500 and World Champion in 5000, will attempt both objectives again in Budapest, as he did last year in Eugene seeking the double gold medal he couldn’t win in 2022 in the U.S.

The 22 -year -old log distance runner won the four races outdoors this year in 1500, all belonging to the Diamond League circuit, and also established the world record of the two miles in Paris with 7: 54.10. The British Jake Wightman deprived him last year of getting his dream by winning in 1500, and now he must also look out for Spanish Mohamed Katir, who will also participate in both races.

Will they be able to enter history? We will know in a few days.