2017 World Championships in Athletics Recap: Bolt Injured in Last Race

steemsports (80)in #steemsports • 7 years ago

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The 2017 IAAF World Championships were the 16th edition held from 4-13 August in London, United Kingdom. The event has now been described as the most competitive and compelling World Championship of all time. It is not just that 700,000 people filled the London Stadium night after night, or that 9.9 million people tuned in to watch Bolt’s and Mo Farah’s farewell on BBC1. It was a combination of spectacular performances and unpredictable races across all events that made this Championships one of the best ever.

Many of the sport’s established stars – Mo Farah, Wayde Van Niekerk and Sally Pearson – won gold medals but there were also several surprise medalists which has introduced fans a field of young athletes making their debut on the global scene.

The likes of 100m silver medalist Christian Coleman, 400m hurdles winner Karsten Warholm, 200m finalist Abdul Sani Brown and triple jump winner Yulmar Rojas are among the so many captivating stories that unfolded during the event. The sport’s stars were also able to better connect with fans at these championships, thanks to various social media campaigns taking place both inside the stadium and the millions watching at home.

This World Championships helped IAAF reach a landmark of 1.2million spectators at the event in London, almost doubling the previous record figure.

Bye-Bye Bolt and Farah

As the curtain fell on Sunday night on the World Championships, athletics had to wave a painful goodbye to its greatest sprinter and showman. Usain Bolt took his final lap of the track to mark the closing of the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships and the London crowd had a chance to take one last adoring look at the man who has transcended track and field.

Bolt arrived at the World Athletics Championship in London hoping to defend an unbeaten record in major global finals, but things did not go as planned for the fastest man alive. He had announced that he was only taking part in the 100m and 4x100m relay events.

In the 100m, he was clearly beaten by American and long-time rival, Justin Gatlin, and Chris Coleman. And when the whole world tuned in to see him run for one last time, at the 4x100 relay, to the disbelief of many, he pulled out injured just as the baton was handed to him.

This is not the end we wanted for the greatest sprinter alive but we will never forget the amazing things he has done, on and off the track. London were good enough to give a special recognition to Bolt on the final day, and he took a victory lap around the track, clapping to the fans. It was really emotional.

It was also the last time we got to see Mo Farah run in a stadium as he had earlier announced he was switching to road running after the Championships. Opening night saw him defend his 10,000m gold medal, but sadly he ended the 5000m in second place, his first loss in four years.

Medal Winners

USA dominated the event and they were top of the medals table for majority of the competition, finishing with 10 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals, a total of 30 overall medals. They were followed by Kenya and South Africa with 11 and 6 medals respectively. Host nation finished with 6 medals (2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze). Jamaica had a very bad outing and could only salvage 4 medals (1 gold and 3 bronze).

Biggest Star

Even in defeat, the Jamaican was the man London 2017 organizers were using to sell tickets by reminding the crowd he would be completing a farewell lap of honor. There is only one athlete who could end London with a disappointing bronze and a heart-breaking DNF, yet still be the star of the show.

Breakthrough Athlete

Karsten Warholm stunned himself more than anyone when he won the 400m hurdles gold. The Norwegian is only 21 and a former decathlete but he led from gun to finish with one of the most commanding victories of the week. His winning time may have been the slowest since 1991, but he’s just been specializing in the event for only three years.

Best Moment

The most thrilling moment came in the 4x100m men’s. As Usain Bolt cramped up, USA and Great Britain were left to fight it out for Gold, with Britain’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake pipping USA’s Christian Coleman to win the nation’s second gold medal. With all the action happening on field, the crowd also enjoyed some action off the field. The official mascot, Hero the Hedgehog was always up to so many mischief that made the mascot amass a large assembly of fans all around the world. But now, to Doha in 2019. If athletics comes together, it might just feel alright.

#running