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Coe vs Ovett. Decker vs Budd. Gatlin vs Bolt.
Everyone loves a good sporting rivalry. And with the athletes set to compete in front of fans at the Olympic Games for the first time since Rio 2016, the pressure to come out on top has never been greater.
With the Olympic countdown well and truly on, here are five rivalries to look out for at Paris 2024.
The Way to the Olympic Rivalries:
Jakob Ingebrigtsen vs Josh Kerr - Athletics - 1500m
For many years, it’s been hard to look past Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen when it comes to the men’s 1500m. The 23-year-old has won two world titles, multiple European titles, and is the reigning Olympic champion. But as we edge towards Paris, the Norwegian may not have it all his own way.
In 2023, we saw a new world champion emerge – Josh Kerr. Things were seemingly going to plan for Ingebrigtsen as he led the 1500m final at the World Championships in Budapest. Then, slowly but surely, Great Britain’s Kerr began to rein him in. And after kicking on in the final 200m, the Brit pipped Ingebrigtsen to gold.
Look out for the 1500m final – and a possible new world record – on Tuesday, 6 August.
IMAGO / USA TODAY Network / James Lang I Jakob Ingebrigsten celebrates winning the gold medal in the 1500m finals during the Olmyic Summer Games 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
IMAGO / Shutterstock / Dave Shopland I Josh Kerr (2nd left) in the Men's 1500m finals during the Olympic Summer Games 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
Sha'Carri Richardson vs. Jamaica - Athletics - 100m
Sticking with the track – and having missed Tokyo 2020 after testing positive for THC (cannabis) in the trials, Sha’Carri Richardson will be determined to make amends in Paris.
The American won 100m gold from the outside lane at the 2023 World Championships, setting a new championship record of 10.65 in the process. She then went on to win 4x100m relay gold with the US team to really lay down a marker ahead of Paris.
And while the defending 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah won’t be there because of an Achilles injury, there will be plenty of competition from her Jamaican teammates.
Shericka Jackson went undefeated for almost two years in the 200m, securing a couple of world titles and recording three of the four quickest times ever in the process. In the 100m, she won bronze at Tokyo 2020 and finished second at the World Championships. Her teammate, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, will also be in contention, having won silver in Tokyo.
IMAGO / USA TODAY Network / Kirby Lee | Sha'Carri Richardson celebrates during the US Olympic team trials in Eugene, USA.
IMAGO / Xinhua / Li Ming | Gold medalist Sha'Carri Richardson (r), silver medalist Shericka Jackson (l) and bronze medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce after the Women's 100m final at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.
Simone Biles vs Rebeca Andrade - Artistic Gymnastics
Simone Biles made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, winning an incredible four gold medals. While she couldn’t quite reach the same heights at Tokyo 2020, winning a silver and a bronze, she will be the favourite going into this summer’s Olympics.
Looking to stop her is Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade. Having won vaulting gold in Tokyo and gold at the World Championships in Antwerp, the 25-year-old will hope to retain her title in Paris.
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire / Kyle Okita | Simone Biles on the balance beam during the Senior Women's 2021 US Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, USA.
IMAGO / Action Plus / Roger Evans | Rebeca Andrade at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2022 in Liverpool, England.
Eliud Kipchoge vs Kenenisa Bekele - Athletics - Marathon
Paris 2024 will see two heavyweights of the athletics world, Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, meet again in the marathon – 21 years on from their first track final together at the World Championships in Paris in 2003.
Kipchoge needs no introduction. He became the first person to run the marathon in under two hours (albeit not in open competition) and held the world record until October 2023 when the late Kelvin Kiptum set a new time of 2:00:35 in Chicago.
If the Kenyan wins in Paris, he’ll become the first person to win three successive Olympic marathons.
Bekele hasn’t competed at the Games since London 2012. He finished second at the 2024 London Marathon and has Olympic pedigree, winning 10,000m gold at Athens 2004, and both 5000m and 10,000m gold at Beijing 2008.
This could be their final race together. Simply unmissable.
IMAGO / Digitalsport | Eliud Kipchoge (l), Kenenisa Bekele (m) and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (r) at the award ceremony after the 5000m race at the Olympic Summer Games 2008 in Beijing, China.
IMAGO / Camera 4 | Eliud Kipchoge (l) and Kenenisa Bekele (r) during the World Athletics Championships 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
Adam Peaty vs Nicolo Martinenghi - Swimming - 100m Breaststroke
Three seems to be the magic number ahead of this summer’s Olympics – and for Great Britain’s Adam Peaty, he’s looking for an historic third 100m breaststroke gold in a row.
Considered one of the greatest swimmers of all time, Peaty holds a number of world records, including becoming the first man to swim under 57 seconds in the 100m breaststroke.
But his preparation for Paris hasn’t been easy. After battling injury and mental health challenges, he took a break from the sport in 2023. He made his comeback at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha this year, qualifying fastest for the final but ultimately taking bronze.
Gold went to Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi. The Italian has had an impressive few years, setting a national record in the 100m breaststroke at Tokyo 2020 and helping Italy to 4x100m medley relay bronze. And after his World Championships gold, he’ll be looking to push Peaty all the way in Paris.
IMAGO / USA TODAY Network / Rob Schumacher | Adam Peaty with his gold medal during the Olympic Summer Games 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
IMAGO / Insidefoto / Giorgio Scala I Nicolo Martinenghi with his bronze medal during the Olympic Summer Games 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
Image selection IMAGO Picture Desk and Robin Metz
