09 August, 2017
Botswana's Isaac Makwala, right, looks round as he races to the line in a Men's 400m semifinal during the World Athletics Championships in London Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
The IAAF put out its own statement defending the decision, saying it "is very sorry that the hard work and talent of Isaac Makwala won't be on display tonight but we have to think of the welfare of all athletes". I hope the fans enjoyed that.
For a man who is widely regarded as one of the most talented athletes of his generation, Wayde van Niekerk is curiously humble, nearly self-deprecating.
"Young American Fred Kerley looked very impressive in strolling to victory in his heat, the 22-year-old all but pulling up in the final 50 metres " leaving experienced campaigners such as Belgium's 2010 European champion Kevin Borlee trailing in his wake although the 29-year-old took one of the other automatic qualifying spots in third.
In an exciting triple jump final, 21-year-old Yulimar Rojas edged Olympic champion Caterine Ibarguen by two centimeters for gold at the world championships.
Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland left it pretty late, but with one massive hammer throw she won her third world title. Now she is back with another gold after a winning throw of 66.76 meters.
"Their performances were simply the appetiser on the day when 30-year-old Bolt will run his last individual races in a major championship in the 100 metres " and the charismatic Jamaican hopes culminate in his 12th world gold medal although he may not be able to afford the awful start he had in his heat on Friday.
The 31-year-old had been the one to beat going into the competition.
The stomach virus that hit a number of athletes at the world championships earlier in the week morphed into a full-fledged mess a few hours before the 400 final, when video surfaced of Isaac Makwala of Botswana - who has pushed Van Niekerk in races all season - being escorted away from the athletes' entrance to the stadium. In the absence of both Usain Bolt and 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin, the race for gold is wide open. Makwala also came close to beating Van Niekerk in a 400 in Monaco. He was withdrawn from the opening round of the 200 on Monday because of the illness. Van Niekerk also has the final of the 400 on Tuesday.
"I should owe him a fee for the amount of recognition he's giving me", Van Niekerk quipped.
Both Van Niekerk and Talbot were timed at 20.16 seconds, but Van Niekerk finished first by the smallest margin possible.
"I used my plans well and last night for morale I told myself: "I am Olympic champion and that others must break me", said Kipruto.
Wlodarczyk may have shown that she can still dominate for years to come.
The tribute took place moments after Tori Bowie, Marie-Josee Ta Lou and Dafne Schippers received their medals for the 100-meter dash.
Since the 2012 Olympics, Merritt has had a kidney transplant. With two Olympic titles to her name, the world record holder has not been beaten since early 2014.
Running in the outside Lane 9, he finished fifth, well behind Olympic champion Omar McLeod.
Besides the 400, there are also finals in the men's 800, steeplechase and pole vault, and the women's javelin.