Complete Guide to the Paris Olympics Featuring Strong Track and Field Candidates Led by Javelin Ace Haruka Kitaguchi

Yuuki Hashioka (25)

Men’s Long Jump: Preliminaries: August 4, 18:00~ (To be determined)
                                Finals: August 7, 3:15~ (Nippon Television Network)

The six-time Japanese champion is aiming to avenge his sixth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.

“Long jump is a mental game. Hashioka’s strengths lie in his overwhelming sprinting power, his ability to take off decisively from the board, and his unshakable mental composure. However, managing fatigue and adjusting his performance across six jumps from preliminaries to finals is a challenge,” said sports writer Toshio Sato.

His personal best would have earned him a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, placing him well within medal contention.

Shunsuke Izumiya (24)

Men’s 110m Hurdles: Preliminaries: August 4, 18:50~ (NHK General → E-Tele)
                                    Semifinals: August 8, 2:05~ (NHK General)

Japan had never reached the finals in the 110m hurdles at a world championship until Izumiya broke that barrier at last year’s World Athletics Championships.

“Men’s hurdles are 23 cm higher than the women’s, requiring exceptional jumping ability. Izumiya’s impressive springiness is evident as he can jump over 8 meters in the long jump. He is a world-class athlete with speed, jumping ability, and excellent rhythm, which are effective in events beyond just hurdles,” said Tamesue.

He is considered the closest among Japanese athletes to winning a medal.

Sani Brown Abdelhakim (25)

Men’s 100m: Semifinals: August 5, 3:00~ (To be determined)
                      Finals: August 5, 4:50~ (TBS Network)

Men’s 4x100m Relay: Preliminaries: August 8, 18:35~ (NHK General → E-Tele)
                                    Finals: August 10, 2:45~ (NHK General)

“Top athletes in the world have an internal speedometer, conserving energy while advancing to the finals. Sani Brown already has the ability to maintain top speed throughout a race, so the key will be peaking at the finals,” said Sato.

Known for his strong finish, Sani Brown has been focusing on improving his start.

“There’s a 0.1 to 0.2-second difference between successful and unsuccessful starts for him, which he is aware of. His top speed at the 60m mark is among the best, so if his start improves, he could contend at the top,” said Tamesue.

With Usain Bolt’s retirement, Sani Brown has the potential to emerge as a prominent figure in sprinting, an area currently lacking a dominant champion.

From the August 9, 2024 issue of FRIDAY