The IAAF World Championships in Beijing will take place from 22-30 August. Global Sports Communication will represent 122 athletes from 16 different countries in Beijing. This number includes 78 Chinese athletes.
The Championships will start with the men’s marathon. Reigning World an Olympic Champion Stephen Kiprotich will try to successfully defend his title on Saturday. He is confident ahead of the Championships: “I am the second person everywhere, in Ugandan I am the second person to win an Olympic medal, I am the second person to win Olympics and World Championships in two years, also in the World Championship I am the second person to win the medal for my country. Now I want to become the first person to win the Olympics twice and World championships twice. That’s my goal, and I believe I can do it.”
Two other reigning World Champions will try to defend their title in Beijing, Swedish Abeba Aregawi in the 1500m and Caterine Ibarguen in the triple jump. Ibarguen has not been defeated since the Olympics in 2012, she says “Defending my title at the World Championships is an opportunity to show the world that Colombia is doing great in sports. And also that there are talented athletes in Colombia who can make it to the highest level. Not only in sports, but in many different areas. I hope to make Colombia proud again!”
Double World Champion (cross country and half marathon) Geoffrey Kamworor is confident ahead of the 10.000m final on Saturday, where he hopes to add another gold to his impressive palmares. He already stated that “whoever will be able to go ahead of Karoki, Tanui and myself will be a true champion”.
Among other medal contenders is European Champion Sifan Hassan, who is the current leader in the Diamond League standings 1500m. She also improved the national record to 3:56.05 in Monaco this year. Kenyan Hyvin Kiyeng will try to win a medal in the 3000mSC. She is currently the second fastest of the year in her event. In the men’s 3000mSC Brimin Kipruto will fight for a medal. He has good memories of Beijing, as this is the place where he won Olympic gold in 2008. Olympic 1500m Champion from 2012 Taoufik Makhloufi will also be an athlete to watch as he is the second fastest of the year so far. Lastly, current world leader in javelin Sunette Viljoen hopes to win her second World Championship medal after her bronze in 2011.
Two athletes from China to watch are Lijiao Gong in the shot put and Guowei Zhang in the high jump. They are both second on the IAAF top list. Gong already won bronze medals at the 2013 and 2009 World Championships and at the London Olympics.
Apart from these experienced athletes, there will be a big group of new talents who will try to surprise the world in Moscow! We wish our athletes all the best in Beijing!
Taoufik Makhloufi ALG 1500m
Thiago Andre BRA 1500m
Mimi Belete BRN 5000m
Maryam Jamal BRN 5000m
Caterine Ibarguen COL TJ
Abrar Osman ERI 10.000m
Ghirmay Ghebreslassie ERI marathon
Mekonnen Gebremedhin ETH 1500m
Habitam Alemu ETH 800m
Gudaf Tsegay ETH 1500m
Besu Sado ETH 1500m
Alemitu Heroye ETH 10.000m
Sofia Assefa ETH 3000mSC
Charlie Grice GBR 1500m
Laura Weightman GBR 1500m
Geoffrey Kamworor KEN10.000m
Brimin KiprutoEN 3000mSC
Faith Kipyegon KEN 1500m
Viola Kibiwot KEN 5000m
Hyvin Kiyeng KEN 3000mSC
Roseflyne Chepngetich KEN 3000mSC
Thijmen Kupers NED 800m
Patrick van Luijk NED 4x100m
Ignisious Gaisah NED LJ
Sifan Hassan NED 1500m
Susan Kuijken NED 10.000m/5.000m
Jip Vastenburg NED 10.000m
Femke Pluim NED PV
Marcin Lewandowski POL 800m
Marius Ionescu ROU marathon
Bianca Razor ROU 400mH
Alina Rotaru ROU LJ
LJ van Zyl RSA 400mH
Elroy Gelant RSA 5000m
Sibusiso Nzima RSA marathon
Sunette Viljoen RSA JT
Abeba Aregawi SWE 1500m
Ronald Musagala UGA 1500m
Benjamin Kiplagat UGA 3000mSC
Phillip Kipyeko UGA 5000m
Joshua Cheptegei UGA 10.000m
Abraham Kiplimo UGA marathon
Jackson Kiprop UGA marathon
Stephen Kiprotich UGA marathon
Jesse Williams USA HJ
