Legend of world athletics who has become a spokesperson for sportswomen, Allyson Felix bid farewell to the track by enriching her exceptional record with a record 19th world medal in Eugene (Oregon) on Friday July 15, on his American lands. The Californian sprinter won bronze with the American mixed 4×400 relay, overtaken by the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands in the final on Friday.
At 36 and after a twenty-year career, Felix has thirteen gold medals among his 19 world awards, plus eleven Olympic medals, including seven titles, from Athens in 2004 to Tokyo in 2021.
For her last lap, the American, launched in the lead in the position of second torchbearer, was carried by an enthusiastic ovation from the public at Hayward Field, which was not enough to allow her to pass the baton in front. The stadium was already largely empty when she received her medal a few minutes later.
A sprint icon whose incomparable, ample and fluid stride has made her reputation, the Californian sprinter took on another dimension in the last part of her career, after giving birth to her daughter Camryn at the end of 2018: when Nike, her equipment supplier of for a long time, had the intention of reducing her emoluments by 70%, she spoke publicly to denounce the policy of the giant of the world sports industry towards pregnant sportswomen. The comma brand ended up folding, and swore that no pregnant professional sportswoman would be financially penalized anymore.
“I hope to be remembered as a fierce competitor, but most importantly, most importantly to me, as someone who tried to leave the sport better than I found it, to support the women athletes, and women in general, and to fight for more equality”said Felix, who worked to set up a childcare system for certain competitions, on the eve of his final lap.
Historic first for Peru
Peruvian Kimberly Garcia Leon offered Peru the very first medal in its history at the World Championships in Athletics, in gold, by winning at the end of the 20 km walk on Friday. Garcia Leon completed this 20 km, launched under a blazing sun at midday, in 1 h 26 min 58 s, ahead of the Polish Katarzyna Zdzieblo, second at 33 seconds, and the Chinese Shijie Qieyang, third at 58 seconds.
Toshikazu Yamanishi walks on gold
The first Japanese walker crowned 20 km world champion in Doha in 2019, Toshikazu Yamanishi retained world gold on Friday ahead of his compatriot Koki Ikeda. Under strong heat and on a little shaded one-kilometre loop, Yamanishi (26), Olympic bronze medalist a year ago in Sapporo (Japan), won in 1 h 19 min 07 s after having distorted company in the last kilometer to Ikeda.
Best time in the 100m heats for theAmerican Fred Kerley
The American Fred Kerley made a strong impression in the 100m heats, which he dominated in 9 seconds 79, just three hundredths from his best world performance of the season. Injured in a thigh and deprived of the least 100m at international level in 2022, the reigning Olympic champion, the Italian Marcell Jacobs, also qualified for the semi-finals.
Pole vaulters Margot Chevrier and Ninon Chapelle in the final
The French Margot Chevrier and Ninon Chapelle will be in the final of the pole vault.
France’s record holder, Ninon Chapelle, for her first major world event since her pregnancy, cleared 4.50 m. Reigning French champion, Margot Chevrier had to do it three times to validate 4.50 m.
Mehdi Belhadj drafted and qualified for the 3,000m steeplechase
French cross-country skier Mehdi Belhadj qualified for the 3,000m steeplechase final on Friday. For his first major international competition, at 27, he took fourth place in his series in 8 min 20 sec 47. A time that allowed him to be drafted after being dominated.