Tokyo 2020 Olympics: 5 Top players to watch out forHere are five players to watch at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics which start from July 23 after a year's delay because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics: 5 Top players to watch out for
Naomi Osaka: The Japanese tennis star's return to action is certain to draw plenty of attention after she withdrew from the French Open citing mental health concerns and also skipped Wimbledon. However, she is currently expected to compete in Tokyo where her treatment by the press is likely to be under close scrutiny. Credit: AFP Photo
Caeleb Dressel: Dressel is poised to be one of the faces of the Tokyo Games as he targets a possible seven gold medals in the pool. The 24-year-old American swimming star was the stand-out performer at June's national trials winning the 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle. He will arrive in Tokyo as the gold medal favourite in each of those and is also likely to feature in four US relay teams. Credit: Reuters Photo
Sifan Hassan: The versatile Dutch runner this month came within half a second of a stunning world record in the women's 1500m, just 5 days after setting a short-lived 10,000m world record. The Ethiopian-born Hassan already has three world records to her name, and it was briefly four before Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey set a new world best in the 10,000m. The world 1500m champion will face a battle royale in Tokyo with Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon of Kenya. Credit: AFP Photo
Trayvon Bromell: The 6ft 3in (1.91m) Floridian lives close to his strength and conditioning coach so was able to train regularly during the pandemic. He established himself as favourite to succeed Usain Bolt as Olympic 100m champion when he blasted to a gun-to-tape victory in the US trials in 9.80sec. Bromell will attempt to become the first US sprinter to win the Olympic 100m crown since Justin Gatlin took gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Credit: AFP Photo
Adam Peaty: Olympic champion and 100m breaststroke world record holder Adam Peaty had a training pool installed in his back garden after facilities were closed during Britain's first coronavirus lockdown last year. The extraordinary measure has already paid off for the 26-year-old, who won four gold medals at last month's European Championships. Peaty won gold in the 100m breaststroke in Rio and silver in the 4x100m medley relay. He is an eight-time world champion. Credit: AFP Photo