Paris Olympic previews hurdles races
Written by I Dig SportsWe look forward to the sprint hurdles and 400m hurdles events at the 2024 Games in France
Here is your form guide to the hurdles races at the Paris Olympics. Dont forget to follow our coverage of the Games on our website and social media channels.
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The below statistics first appeared in our monthly print magazine, which you can buy here.
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Mens 110m hurdles
Final: August 8
Defending champion: Hansle Parchment (JAM) 13.04
Olympic record: Liu Xiang (CHN) 12.91, 2004
World champion: Grant Holloway (USA) 12.96
World leader: Grant Holloway (USA) 12.86
While far from being a foregone conclusion, USA should dominate as they had six of the fastest eight times of the year at the beginning of July.
Top contenders
Grant Holloway (USA) (12.86 in 2024)
A three-time global champion both indoors and out, he will be keen to make up for second place in Tokyo in 2021 and has been unbeatable so far in 2024.
Freddie Crittenden (USA) (12.93 in 2024)
The Budapest fourth-placer ran his first sub-13 at the US trials.
Daniel Roberts (USA) (12.96 in 2024)
The Budapest bronze medallist also went inside the 13-second barrier for the first time.
Lorenzo Simonelli (ITA) (13.05 in 2024)
Improved from 13.21 to 13.05 to win European gold and looked in form with second place at the Monaco Diamond League.
British Challenge: Tade Ojora was only fourth at the trials and was selected on his much better 2023 form, when he was a Budapest semi-finalist.
Prediction: 1 Holloway (USA) 12.84; 2 Crittenden (USA) 12.96; 3 Roberts (USA) 13.04
Womens 100m hurdles
Final: August 10
Defending champion: Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) 12.37
Olympic record: Sally Pearson (AUS) 12.35, 2012
World champion: Danielle Williams (JAM) 12.43
World leader: Masai Russell (USA) 12.25
This event has seen great improvement in recent years and there are plenty of potential medallists.
Top contenders
Masai Russell (USA) (12.25 in 2024)
Was in modest form leading up to the US trials and then went fourth all-time with 12.25 in the final.
Ackera Nugent (JAM) (12.28 in 2024)
The former world under-20 champion moved up a level in the Jamaican trials to go into the all-time top 10.
Cyrena Samba-Mayela (FRA) (12.31 in 2024)
A superb European gold medal-winning run showed the home crowd should have plenty to cheer about here.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) (12.39 in 2024)
The reigning champion has since won medals in two World Championships and been in good form in 2024.
British challenge: Cindy Sember was fourth at the Europeans in 12.56 but might need a PB just to make the final.
Prediction: 1 Samba-Mayela (FRA) 12.25; 2 Camacho-Quinn (PUR) 12.34; 3 Russell (USA) 12.35
Mens 400m hurdles
Final: August 9
Defending champion/Olympic record: Karsten Warholm (NOR) 45.94
World champion: Karsten Warholm (NOR) 46.89
World leader: Rai Benjamin (USA) 46.46
This could be the race of the Games, with the three fastest athletes of all time in form and evenly matched.
Top contenders
Rai Benjamin (USA) (46.46 in 2024)
The American champion has three global silvers and a bronze and narrowly came out on top at the Monaco Diamond League.
Alison dos Santos (BRA) (46.63 in 2024)
The 2022 world champion was third in Tokyo and is gradually getting back to his best.
Karsten Warholm (NOR) (46.70 in 2024)
The world record-holder, defending Olympic champion and three-time world champion won European gold but doesnt yet look to be in absolutely top form.
Malik James-King (JAM) (47.42 in 2024)
A one-second PB won him the Jamaican title. He has no championships experience but was a fine fourth in Monaco behind the big three.
British challenge:
Alastair Chalmers clocked a 48.54 PB at the British trials but might need a sub-48 run to make the final.
AW Prediction: 1 Warholm (NOR) 46.21; 2 Benjamin (USA) 46.23; 3 Dos Santos (BRA) 46.36
Womens 400m hurdles
Final: August 8
Defending champion/Olympic record: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) 51.46
World champion: Femke Bol (NED) 51.70
World leader: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) 50.65
Little separates the greatest female athlete in the world right now and the very best in Europe. Dont be surprised if the world record falls again.
Top contenders
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) (50.65 in 2024)
Improved her own world record at the US Trials and, with 22.07 200m speed, she should go even faster in Paris.
Femke Bol (NED) (50.95 in 2024)
The world and European champion who also won the world indoor 400m title in Glasgow has cut the gap to McLaughlin-Levrone, breaking her European record in Switzerland.
Rushell Clayton (JAM) (52.51 in 2024)
The 2019 and 2023 world bronze medallist smashed her PB when winning the Jamaican trials.
Anna Cockrell (USA) (52.64 in 2024)
The former world under-20 champion broke 53 seconds for the first time in the semi-finals at the US trials but went much faster in the final.
British challenge: Lina Nielsen had a big breakthrough with a 54.43 run but may need even faster to get to the Paris semis. Jessie Knight showed greatly improved form at La Chaux-de-Fonds.
AW Prediction: 1 McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) 50.46; 2 Bol (NED) 50.75; 3 Clayton (JAM) 51.99