Category: Track and field

 

 

Here is everything you need to know about Yohan Blake’s career to date and why he has not lived up to expectations.

Yohan Blake is a Jamaican sprinter who specialises in 100 and 200-meter races. He has had a lot on his plate since he came into the limelight.

 

Although he has shown glimpses of what he is capable of when fully fit, Yokan Blake’s career has been characterised by so many setbacks.

 

Stay updated with the Latest Athletics News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

 

From breakthrough year all the way to almost being forgotten, his journey points out a lack of consistency, given his troubles with injuries, that have hampered his growth.

 

Pulse Sports brings you everything regarding Yohan Blake and his life on track.

 

1. Yokan Blake’s early promise

Yohan Blake: The heir that never was? What happened to Usain Bolt’s expected successor

Yohan Blake is the second fastest man in history.

Yohan Blake has had a fare share of his success on the track in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprint races, since shooting to prominence at the 2011 World Championships as the youngest 100m world champion ever.

 

Yohan Blake: Who are the parents of the second fastest sprinter in history?

Yohan Blake: Who are the parents of the second fastest sprinter in history?

He is the beneficiary of Usain Bolt’s false start in 2011 when he won the 100m title.

 

To underline that his 2011 truimph was not by fluke, Blake was a silver medalist in the 2012 Olympic Games in London in the 100m and 200m races for the Jamaican team behind Usain Bolt. His times of 9.75 in 100m and 19.44 in 200m are the fastest 100m and 200m Olympic sprints in history to place second.

 

2. Why people thought he’d be the next Bolt

Yohan Blake: The heir that never was? What happened to Usain Bolt’s expected successor

Yohan Blake celebrates with the Jamaican flag.

Blake is the second‑fastest man ever in both 100m and 200m at his peak. Together with Tyson Gay, he is the joint second fastest man ever over 100m with a personal best of 9.69 seconds which he ran on August 23, 2012 into a slight headwind of -0.2m/s compared to Tyson Gay’s +2.0m/s making his time (with wind adjustments) the second fastest time of all time. Only Usain Bolt has run faster (9.58s and 9.63s) than Blake.

 

Faster than lightening: 3 Athletes who have broken Usain Bolt’s record

Faster than lightening: 3 Athletes who have broken Usain Bolt’s record

His personal best for the 200m of 19.26 seconds is the second fastest time ever after Bolt (19.19 seconds). Blake holds the Jamaican national junior record for the 100 metres, and was the youngest sprinter to have broken the 10-second barrier at 19 years, 196 days old before Trayvon Bromell ran 100m in 9.97 seconds at 18 years 11 months and 3 days old.

 

His head-to-head battles with Bolt were hard to imagine, even sometimes beating Bolt in races. Bolt even called Yohan Blake his biggest threat because of his potential and stats that surprised everyone.

 

3. What went wrong?

Yohan Blake: The heir that never was? What happened to Usain Bolt’s expected successor

Second fastest man in history Yohan Blake can still make a stunning comeback.

Injuries – recurring hamstring injuries from 2013 onwards derailed his career. Blake tore his hamstring, which prevented him from qualifying for the 200m event at the 2013 World Championships. In July 2014, Blake tore his left hamstring while competing in the 100m at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. He fell to the ground and was carted off in a wheelchair.

 

To date, Blake says the 2014 injury still affects him, contributing to his decline in performance and consistency. Blake failed to make Jamaica’s team to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

Training and coaching changes – Blake has worked with several coaches including Glen Mills, Patrick Dawson, Gregory Little and Michael Frater. Mills worked with Blake between 2009-2019 while Dawson only handled him in 2019. Little coached Blake from 2020 until Blake parted ways with him after four years. Perhaps shifting from where Bolt trained under coach Mills to different setups affected his performance.

 

Mental pressure and expectations – Being labeled ‘the next Bolt’ may have been a heavy burden. The rise of young sprinters like Andre De Grasse, Fred Kerley and others took the spotlight.

 

4. His post-Bolt era performance

Yohan Blake: The heir that never was? What happened to Usain Bolt’s expected successor

Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake

Blake is still competing but no longer at his dominant level considering that he is 35. He has struggled in recent Olympic and world championships events but does he still have a shot at redemption?

 

5. Legacy and what next

Yohan Blake: The heir that never was? What happened to Usain Bolt’s expected successor

Yohan Blake ran his fastest time in a Lausanne meet in 2012 (

The question that might be disturbing many people is that is Blake a wasted talent or just unlucky?. Blake should be remembered for his second fastest times behind only Bolt and his emergence in 2011 at the world championships.

 

While Blake has given a hint that there’s more left in his tank, it remains to be seen whether he will stay fit. Currently Blake is stepping up his fitness and is expected to take part in major assignments this year.

 

Everything you need to know about reigning Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi. Photos || FILE

Everything you need to know about 2024 Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, born on August 1, 2004, in Kapretwa, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya, has rapidly ascended to prominence in the world of middle-distance running, particularly in the 800 metres event.

 

, at the age of 20, Wanyonyi’s remarkable achievements have not only solidified his status as a premier athlete but have also significantly bolstered his financial standing

 

Emmanuel Wanyonyi: Net Worth: Family, Age, Career, World Records, Wife, How Rich is he in 2025?

Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s early life & family

Emmanuel Wanyonyi: Net Worth: Family, Age, Career, World Records, Wife, How Rich is he in 2025?

Emmanuel Wanyonyi reveals next stop as his hunt for David Rudisha’s world record intensifies Image source: Imago Emmanuel Wanyonyi: Net Worth: Family, Age, Career, World Records, Wife, How Rich is he in 2025?

Growing up as the fifth of twelve children, Wanyonyi faced considerable economic challenges. At the tender age of 10, financial constraints forced him to abandon his primary education and take up cattle herding to support his family.

 

Tragedy struck when he was 14, with the passing of his father, prompting his mother to relocate with his younger siblings.

 

Despite these hardships, Wanyonyi’s passion for running remained undiminished. A perceptive teacher recognized his talent and encouraged him to return to school, a decision that would pave the way for his athletic career.

 

Under the mentorship of renowned former athlete Janeth Jepkosgei – who linked him to Italian coach Claudio Berardelli, Wanyonyi honed his skills, setting the stage for his future successes.

 

Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

 

Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s athletic career and records

Emmanuel Wanyonyi: Net Worth: Family, Age, Career, World Records, Wife, How Rich is he in 2025?

Marco Arop and Emmanuel Wanyonyi Emmanuel Wanyonyi: Net Worth: Family, Age, Career, World Records, Wife, How Rich is he in 2025?

Wanyonyi’s breakthrough came in 2021 when he clinched the gold medal at the World Under-20 Championships, setting a championship record in the process.

 

In 2022, he faltered finishing fourth at the World Athletics Championships, but he finally won his first senior medal in 2023 when he clinched silver at the World Championships in Budapest.

 

The youngster was nominated for the World Athletics Rising Star Awards in 2023, which he ended up winning

 

His upward trajectory continued, and by 2024, he had etched his name in the annals of athletics history. In April 2024, he set a world record in the road mile with a time of 3:54.56 during the adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

 

He won his first senior Olympic medal at the Paris Olympics, edging out fierce rivals Marco Arop and Djamel Sedjati to win the award.

 

This record stood until September 2024. Later that year, in August, Wanyonyi delivered a stellar performance at the Lausanne Diamond League, matching Wilson Kipketer’s 1997 time of 1:41.11 in the 800 metres, making them jointly the second-fastest athletes ever in this event, trailing only David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91.

 

Emmanuel Wanyonyi: Net Worth: Family, Age, Career, World Records, Wife, How Rich is he in 2025?

Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the Olympic 800m gold medal in Paris

Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s net worth and earnings in 2025

Wanyonyi’s athletic prowess has translated into substantial financial rewards. His gold medal victory at the 2024 Summer Olympics not only brought him international acclaim but also a monetary prize of $50,000 from World Athletics, complemented by an additional Ksh3 million from the Kenyan government.

 

While specific figures regarding his earnings from the world record in Herzogenaurach remain undisclosed, it’s evident that such achievements come with significant financial incentives.

 

Moreover, his participation and victories in various Diamond League events have further augmented his income.

 

Considering these earnings, along with potential endorsements and sponsorships from companies like Adidas, it’s estimated that Wanyonyi’s net worth in 2025 is approximately $1 million.

 

Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s personal life

Despite his rising fame and fortune, Wanyonyi remains grounded and private about his personal life. As of 2025, he has already concerned that he is in the process of courtship with an unnamed woman.

 

He outlined his conditions for what he wants in a potential wife, making it clear he wants to settle down with a local girl, rather than an urban one.

 

His focus appears to be steadfastly on his athletic career, with aspirations to break existing world records and further elevate Kenya’s prominence in middle-distance running.

 

Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s journey from a young cattle herder in rural Kenya to an Olympic gold medalist and world record holder is a testament to his resilience, dedication, and exceptional talent.

 

As he continues to push the boundaries of his sport, the world eagerly anticipates the next milestones in his already illustrious career.

 

Usain Bolt retired as one of the greatest sprinters to ever grace the track but eight years after calling it a day on his incredible career, the 38-year-old believes he could still clock a phenomenal timing in a 100-metre race.

 

The Olympic legend set a world record speed of 9:58 secs at the 2009 World Championships that has lasted until this day and does not look in danger of being beaten.

 

After a career full of medals and breaking world records, the Jamaican legend signed off in style by winning a bronze in the 2017 World Championships 100-metre race.

 

 

 

However, eight years after his last professional track event, Bolt still believes he could still record the kind of timing most could only dream of in a 100-metre race.

 

“Maybe 10:30, that would be me,” said the eight-time Olympic gold medalist on The Obi One podcast.

 

In his world record run of 9:58, Bolt ran the quickest 10-metre time in a mere 0.81 seconds, which is about the same speed as a horse.

 

 

 

Although the track legend agreed he was not quick as he was back then, Bolt revealed he was planning on training for three weeks and attempting to compete in a race to rubberstamp his 100-metre time eight years on from his retirement.

 

“Everybody asks this question now,” Bolt said.

 

“I’m gonna go home, I’m gonna train for three weeks, I’m gonna do some work for three weeks and go to the track and do it and see how fast and so I can put it out because I have no idea.”

 

Sprinting legend Usain Bolt remains the world-record holder over 100 metres

Sprinting legend Usain Bolt remains the world-record holder over 100 metres

 

Bolt broke the 100-metre record three times in his career after first snatching the feat away from Tyson Gay in 2008 by clocking 9:72.

 

He then went on to break his own time in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Finals, only to later break it again in 2009 by clinching the gold medal in a record 9:58 secs.

 

His 100-metre record has not even been close to being broken as no sprinter has yet breached the 9:60 mark, though the likes of Noah Lyles and Gout Gout are both contenders for that crown in years to come.

 

Although he dominated the 100-metre dash throughout his career, Bolt’s world record in the 200-metre event of 19:19 also still remains intact and the track legend admitted he actually preferred the latter event compared to his trademark race.

 

 

 

When Jamaican sprinter Warren Weir told Usain Bolt about his career change, the Olympic icon cut a bemused figure.

 

After all, Weir finished behind only Bolt and fellow Jamaican great Yohan Blake in the 200m event at the 2012 London Olympics to secure a bronze medal.

 

 

(LtoR) Silver medallist Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, gold medallist Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and bronze medallist Jamaica’s Warren Weir pose on the podium after the men’s 200m final at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 9, 2012 in London.

Bolt (centre) overcame Weir (right) in the 200m final at the London Olympics

It meant Weir helped create Jamaican athletic history, as the 200m race was the first time the Caribbean nation enjoyed a podium clean sweep in a men’s event.

 

The 35-year-old even clocked a personal best time of 19.84 seconds as he claimed the bronze.

 

However, when Weir injured his hamstring at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, he recognised his time on the track was nearing its end.

 

 

But his sporting career was not.

 

“It’s not about quitting. It’s about knowing when to move on.”

 

With Weir knowing the curtains on his athletic career were about to be drawn, he decided he would try his hand at rugby sevens.

 

Weir won medals at the Olympics, the World Championships and Commonwealth Games

Weir won medals at the Olympics, the World Championships and Commonwealth GamesCredit: Getty

Rugby sevens is far less physical than the 15-a-side format of the game and players blessed with speed, like Weir, can exploit the multiple gaps across the field.

 

In fact, it was the Jamaican rugby sevens team that approached Weir, rather than the other way around.

 

 

But the Olympic medallist was all too keen to try his hand at the sport.

 

Speaking to the Olympics Channel, Weir revealed how his former rival Bolt reacted to his career change.

 

Safe to say, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist was rather surprised.

 

“Bolt’s a good friend of mine and we see each other at the track a lot,” Weir said.

 

 

Weir had never played rugby sevens until he was approached by Jamaica’s team

Weir had never played rugby sevens until he was approached by Jamaica’s teamCredit: @warren_weir on Instagram

“It’s just chatting and jokes. When I told him that I was going to rugby he was like, ‘Yo, bro are you joking? You’re so slim!’”

 

It was just three months later when Weir made his rugby sevens debut as he represented Jamaica at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games.

 

The Jamaican team, also known as the ‘Crocs’, finished third after beating Trinidad and Tobago 26-5 in the bronze medal match.

 

 

Although Weir was pleased to pick up a medal in his new sport, his main ambition was to help the Crocs qualify for the rugby sevens event at the Tokyo Olympics.

 

However, his dream failed to materialise, as Jamaica finished last in their pool at the final qualification tournament.

 

They lost all three of their matches against France, Hong Kong and Chile, scoring just ten points and conceding 102.

 

 

 

The pair will now focus on their outdoor campaigns, with the ultimate aim being September’s World Championships in Tokyo

Laviai Nielsen and Jemma Reekie have announced that they have ended their indoor seasons.

 

The pair, who both represented Great Britain on the track at last year’s Olympics in Paris, will now prepare for their outdoor campaigns, with the season’s pinnacle being the Tokyo World Championships in September.

 

“Unfortunately, I’ve made the decision to end my indoor season here so no British Champs for me this weekend,” Nielsen said.

 

“After a challenging winter with a few setbacks, I know I’m not in the shape I need to be to compete at my best. It’s never easy to step away, but this is the right call to focus on getting stronger for the outdoor season.”

 

 

GB women’s 4x400m squad in Paris

 

The 28-year-old competed in three indoor 400m races in February, clocking a season’s best of 51.88 at the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlelor in France.

 

Nielsen’s personal best in the indoor 400m is the 50.89 that placed her fourth at last year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

 

The Brit also finished 12th overall in the Paris Olympic 400m semi-finals and secured two bronzes in the women’s and mixed 4x400m relays at the Stade de France.

 

 

 

Reekie has also made the decision to cut short her indoor season, with the main focus being outdoors.

 

“I’ve decided the best way for myself to get ready for this outdoor season is to prioritise me and get back to work,” she said.

 

The 26-year-old competed in two indoor 800m races in February, with her season’s best being the 1:59.72 she ran at the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlelor in France.

 

Although Reekie didn’t make the Olympic 800m final, she secured a silver medal over the distance on home soil at last year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

 

Reekie also improved her outright 800m best to 1:55.61 at the London Diamond League, going second on the UK all-time list behind only Keely Hodgkinson.

 

» Subscribe to AW magazine here, check out our new podcast here or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here

 

 

 

Usain Bolt was once stripped of an Olympic gold medal for a heartbreaking reason nearly a decade after winning it.

 

Bolt, 38, is an eight-time Olympic gold medallist but once boasted nine triumphs.

 

During his hugely successful sprinting career, he smashed world records in the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay and is still the only athlete to win 100m and 200m golds in three consecutive Olympics – in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

 

The Jamaican completed the remarkable ‘triple triple’ of golds at the Rio de Janeiro games in Brazil only for the achievement to be taken from him after his teammate from the Beijing games in 2008 tested positive for a banned substance.

 

 

According to reports by BBC Sport, Carter, 39, was tested on the evening of the 4 x 100m final in Beijing, China.

 

No “adverse analytical finding” was found at the time.

 

However, an anomaly was discovered in Carter’s sample following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to retest 454 samples from the games using updated scientific methods.

 

Carter and the Jamaican team were then informed of the adverse finding in May 2016.

 

 

Reuters reported that his ‘B’ sample also came back positive for a banned substance.

 

The decision was appealed by Carter in February 2017 before a hearing was held in Switzerland in November 2017. The ban was upheld.

 

The 2008 Jamaican Olympic 4 x 100m team

The substance named Methylhexanamine had been on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list since 2004 but was reclassified in 2011 to a “specified substance”.

 

 

 

“It’s heartbreaking [the positive test] because over the years you’ve worked hard to accumulate gold medals and work hard to be a champion … but it’s just one of those things,” Bolt said when pressed on the situation in 2016.

 

“Things happen in life, so when it’s confirmed or whatever, if I need to give back my gold medal, I’d have to give it back; it’s not a problem for me.”

 

In another interview [quotes via talkSPORT] he added: “I am disappointed based on losing a medal.

 

“But it won’t take away from what I have done throughout my career, because I have won my individual events and that’s the key thing.”

 

 

 

He explained: “What can you do? I’ve done all I wanted in the sport, I have really impacted the sport, I’ve really accomplished a lot, so for me, I can’t complain.”

 

And despite sporting one less gold medal, there’s no doubting Bolt’s legacy in the sport and his long-standing world records speak for themselves.

 

 

 

 

Usain Bolt had a sharp response when asked about the ‘inconceivable’ prospect someone could one day be faster than him.

 

The Jamaican sprint king holds the world record for the men’s 100m and 200m events.

 

 

Bolt collected gold medals and world records like it was nobody’s business

Bolt collected gold medals and world records like it was nobody’s businessCredit: Getty

In the 100m, Bolt crossed the line in a staggering 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

 

To underline Bolt’s dominance in the 100m event, he also boasts the second-fastest time and is part of a three-way tie for the third-fastest alongside countryman Yohan Blake and Tyson Gay.

 

Bolt set the 200m record at the same event in 2009 when he clocked a time of just 19.19 seconds.

 

 

The Jamaican called it quits on the sport in 2017 after a career in which he snared eight Olympic gold medals and was an 11-time world champion.

 

Read more athletics news

 

At present, Bolt’s 100m record looks rather safe.

 

The winning time for the event at the 2024 Paris Olympics was 9.79 seconds, clocked by Noah Lyles.

 

The Jamaican is extremely confident his world records will remain intactCredit: The Graham Norton Show

However, Lyles has plenty of belief he is the man to break Bolt’s 200m record and came close to doing so in July 2022 when he finished with a time of 19.31 seconds at the World Athletic Championships in Oregon.

 

 

But the one individual who may pose the biggest threat of all is Australia’s 17-year-old sensation Gout Gout.

 

British sprinter Divine Iheme shows he is ‘quicker than Noah Lyles and Usain Bolt’ and is set to rival Gout Gout as he smashes 100m record

Gout broke Bolt’s under-16 200m record last year as well as the Australian national record, held for 56 years by Peter Norman, when he set a time of 20.04 seconds.

 

The teen’s record-breaking time of 20.04 seconds would have placed him sixth in the 200m final at the Paris Olympics.

 

Gout now looks destined to showcase his talents on the global stage at the World Championships in September, which will be held in Tokyo.

 

 

He is not shy of confidence either, warning Lyles in a podcast episode he was ready to make a statement in Japan.

 

Gout Gout will hope to eclipse Bolt’s feats in the 200m

“I’m trying to show you what’s up,” Gout told Beyond the Records.

 

“Whatever I’ve got to do to show Noah I’m coming for that spot.

 

“Obviously it’s a learning experience, but deep down I’m trying to get a medal for sure, be in that final and running up Noah or trying to chase Noah down.”

 

Responding with a smile, Lyles said: “That’s what I love to hear.

 

“I want you to come up to me and say, ‘Yeah, I am going to take your spot.’”

 

 

 

Fresh approach to refuelling, technological advances and more aggressive training philosophies will likely lead to even more historic feats

 

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo – seven world records in one week: the three reasons why best times keep tumbling

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo set a world record in the men’s half-marathon, shattering the previous best by 48 seconds Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP

 

Seven world records by five athletes hailing from four different continents in the space of only eight days.

 

The reawakening of athletics following the Olympic summer has been spectacular, culminating on Sunday: a world record in the men’s half-marathon by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo of 56min 42sec that shattered the previous best by 48 seconds.

 

It was the biggest half-marathon world record improvement and, with Kiplimo making his debut over 26.2 miles in London on April 27, a first official sub two-hour marathon looks feasible. Elsewhere over the weekend, Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi lowered the 20km race walk record to 1h 16min 10sec, while the American double Olympic medallist Grant Fisher took the men’s indoor 5,000m world record down to 12min 44.09sec. Fisher had also set a 7min 22.91sec 3,000m world record at the Millrose meeting in New York the previous week when Yared Nuguse lowered the mile record to 3min 46.63sec. That mile record, however, would last only five days, with the Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen taking it down to 3min 45.14sec on Thursday night while also beating his own 1500m mark en route in 3min 29.63sec.

 

Keely Hodgkinson was also confident that the women’s 800m world record would have fallen on Saturday had it not been for a hamstring tear just 72 hours earlier. So what are some of the factors which lie behind this glut of world records and will it continue?

 

A simple glance at the list of athletics world records underlines one of the biggest factors in all this. From the road mile upwards on the men’s side, and in the 1500m and above in the women’s, every single world record has been set since the emergence of what are now known as “super shoes”. The first prototypes were seen at the 2016 Olympic marathon in Rio de Janeiro, when Nike runners dominated the men’s podium.

The first mass-market version was then the Vaporfly, for which tests showed a four per cent increase in efficiency. An arms race soon ensued, both on the road and with track spikes, to produce ever lighter and more responsive shoes. Although the feeling inside athletics is that the big seismic shift has already happened, there are new models each year and every shoe company is now trying to better customise their shoes to the running style of specific athletes. The shoe’s weight is also an ongoing focus. The £450 Adidas Pro Evo 1, for example, weighs in at just 138 grams.

 

A close-up of Kelvin Kiptum’s shoes after he set a marathon world record in Chicago in 2023

The late Kelvin Kiptum set a world record in the 2023 Chicago Marathon in these Nike Alphafly 3 shoes

Most super shoes have some sort of curved plate or rods inserted in the foam midsole (usually made of carbon) to maintain their shape and promote an optimum rocking motion. Most super shoe models also use a midsole material called Pebax and, although people assume that the carbon element is crucial, most of the energy is actually optimised in this foam.

 

The heel limit on road shoes is 40mm – and the biggest improvements have been on the road – but we are also now seeing much more responsive track shoes up to the legal 20mm limit, with Nuguse, Fisher and Ingebrigtsen all wearing either the Nike Dragonfly or Victory spike. Kiplimo set his road half-marathon record in the Nike Alphafly 3 shoe that retails at £289.99 and was also worn by Ruth Chepngetich and the late Kelvin Kiptum for their marathon world records.

 

 

A less publicised but equally competitive field of research just now in endurance relates to fuelling. Issues around digestion have long since limited what athletes can ingest before and during competition, whether that is in simple carbohydrates or sodium bicarbonate, a performance enhancer for the way that it allows athletes to maintain their intensity during moments of extreme exertion.

 

The Swedish company Maurten designed a hydrogel some years ago that could bypass the gut while ingesting carbohydrates, meaning that athletes can potentially absorb more fuel while exercising than previously thought possible.

 

Maurten then used this technology to see if sodium bicarbonate could be delivered in a more effective way after a large proportion of those trying simply to ingest what is essentially baking soda found themselves requiring multiple toilet trips.

 

The results of their “bicarb system” have been extraordinary and, rather like Nike with the super shoes, other companies are now trying to develop their own versions. The vast majority of leading middle- and long-distance runners now use sodium bicarbonate, a product described as “gold dust” to the Telegraph by one leading coach. Trevor Painter, who coaches Hodgkinson and Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Bell, says that he “couldn’t recommend Maurten bicarb strongly enough”. Sodium bicarbonate is believed to be beneficial during strenuous exercise of more than about a minute because of the body’s production of hydrogen ions and lactate salt.

 

Hydrogen ions make muscles and blood more acidic – thus decreasing efficiency – but the working theory is that the sodium bicarbonate helps to “flush” those hydrogen ions out more quickly. There is also a belief that the lactate itself is moved more rapidly and can thus be used as a fuel. Sports scientists believe the significant benefits stretch from distances of 800m all the way up to the marathon and beyond.

 

Keely Hodgkinson and coach Trevor Painter during a strength and conditioning session during a winter training camp in South Africa in January 2024

Keely Hodgkinson with coach Trevor Painter, who advocates ingesting a form of sodium bicarbonate to improve performance Credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Training smarter

In understanding the impact of changes in shoe technology and fuelling, it is critical also to look beyond any individual race to the new training possibilities that might arise.

 

The British runner Chris Thompson, whose distinguished career straddled before and after these innovations, reckons that super shoes moved marathon times forward by an average of four minutes but says that “learning to train” with them has become an art in itself. Although some runners report calf issues with excessive use, the general consensus is that recovery from more intense sessions is quicker and thus greater volumes of training are possible.

 

“I’m coming back after two days and doing stuff that I think shouldn’t be possible,” said Thompson before finishing in the top 10 of the 2023 London Marathon, aged 42. Anecdotal stories of Kiptum running up to 300km a week soon spread inside athletics and a general move back towards a higher-volume ethos is evident. That is not just down to the shoes or fuelling, however, and it is clear that the extraordinary success of the entire Ingebrigtsen family – but most notably double Olympic champion Jakob – is having a big knock-on through the sport.

 

Similar to Tadej Pogacar in cycling, they employ a training mode that emphasises tightly controlled “threshold” training at a 7/10 sort of intensity in order to help accumulate vast quantities of kilometres without excessive fatigue. It is a general philosophy followed by Fisher and now Great Britain’s George Mills, who has just smashed Josh Kerr’s national 3,000m record, as well as the Swede Andreas Almgren, who recently set a European 10km road record. A previous emphasis in the 1990s and 2000s towards higher intensity but lower volume training still suits some – especially over 800m – but a greater proportion of athletes now seem to be staying free of injury and consistently reaching their potential.

 

Action shot of Scottish athlete Eilish McColgan competing

Eilish McColgan suggests shoe technology is contributing to more “aggressive” approaches in training

Eilish McColgan suggests that the shoe technology is also contributing to more “aggressive” approaches in training, racing and mentalities. “Maybe it is seeing one person break a record and thinking, ‘I can do it’,” she says. “Then another person does it and another person. It’s a bit of a mindset change.”

 

Any debate on human performance trends inside any sport can also hardly ignore the wider anti-doping history. In athletics, where anti-doping has been overseen by the independent Athletics Integrity Unit following the Russia scandal, there have been particular recent concerns with respect to Kenya where, since 2015, around 300 people have served or are serving anti-doping suspensions. New threats will also inevitably continue to emerge – the Telegraph reported last week of warnings inside the scientific community of a new undetectable mitochondrial transplant – but it has been encouraging to hear successful current athletes and coaches proactively speak out on the subject in recent years.

 

Jenny Meadows, who now coaches Hodgkinson after losing out on major medals during her own career to dopers, feared that she was leaving a sport beyond hope when she retired in 2016. She is more optimistic today. “You have to work so hard, but clean people can win and achieve things,” she says. “Seeing that has allowed me to not be as bitter as I might have become.”

 

Ingebrigtsen, whose stellar track record and incremental improvements can be traced all the way back to the age of eight, called for more testing last year and outlined concerns that cheats were evading detection. Ingebrigtsen has openly allowed documentary crews to film inside his life for many years and that is something Kerr has been doing increasingly in 2025.

 

“My goal was to show behind the scenes a bit more … knowing this sport is possible to be clean at the highest level,” said Kerr. Theirs is just one rivalry that is pushing performances forward and, with Hicham El Guerrouj’s respective 1500m and mile records still standing after more than 25 years, two of the very best in the book will surely also come under serious threat this summer.

“I’ve always wanted to be Usain Bolt, ever since I was little.” Julien Alfred has been chasing greatness, and now, she’s closer than ever. The Saint Lucian sprinter has steadily carved her place in history with an unexpected NCAA move, dominating short sprints with a combination of raw speed and relentless determination. But while her rise has been spectacular, what truly sets her apart? No American woman holds all the national records across multiple sprint distances like she does

Julien Alfred is creating a huge impression! The thrilling athlete won the gold medal in the 100 meters at Paris 2024, with Sha’Carri Richardson trailing her. She finished second in silver, behind Gabby Thomas, despite running a strong 200-meter finish. Her strength is demonstrated on the track by her unwavering spirit of competition. Since the arrival of 2025, Alfred has prepared herself for changes. And the opposition believed they understood her strategy? Not even close

The record books are being rewritten by Julien Alfred. One race at a time! At Friday’s Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina, she went outside her typical sprinting range. A tweet that was made on X precisely captured the winning moment. At the Tiger Paw Invitational, Julien Alfred set a new St. Lucian 400-meter indoor record at Clemson with a time of 52.97 seconds. She now holds the 60-, 100-, 200-, 300-, and 400-meter national records (i). One hundred meters

Julien Alfred isn’t only keeping up with Shericka Jackson and Gabby Thomas. They are reconsidering the race because of her. She is proven to be a “true dual threat,” as Justin Gatlin described her almost a year ago. The established dominance of Thomas and Jackson in the 200-meter race is being challenged by Alfred’s versatility. Gabby Thomas set a personal best time of 21.61 seconds in the 200 meters during the Olympic trials. Despite this, Shericka still has the best time ever, which was 21.41 seconds in 2023.

The catch is that Alfred continues to progress even if her current time is 21.86. She’s gaining the stamina she needs to catch up to track and field greats like Shericka Jackson and Gabby Thomas by competing in the 300 and 400 meters. Her recent impressive performances suggest that she has evolved into the primary challenge and is no longer a threat to others. Instead of pursuing Gabby and Shericka, Julien Alfred is forcing them to do so!

about her perseverance as she pushes herself outside her comfort zone and takes on new tasks. This season, there are several sprinters who are challenging themselves, including Julien Alfred. Hi, this is Alfred’s training partner, Dina Asher-Smith. The UK native, who is renowned for her pace in the 100 and 200 meters, won her section at the Tiger Paw Invitational by setting a personal record of 52.31 seconds in the 400 meters. In track and field, is versatility the newest thing? Well, it appears to be the case with players like Alfred and Asher-Smith spreading out to develop their power and stamina. Will other athletes in track and field do the same? We’ll have to wait and see.