Raising the bar: Duplantis leads the stars aiming to break world records in Tokyo

"Armand Duplantis is in a class of his own with a 17-foot pole in his hands. The Swede has broken the world record 13 times, including three times this year. His clearance of 6.28m at June's Diamond League on home soil in Stockholm was particularly special: This was one of my biggest goals and dreams, to set a world record here at Stadion. It's magic."

"The disappointment of her failed attempt to become the first woman to run a four-minute mile in June was short lived for Faith Kipyegon. The following week, the 31-year-old Kenyan ran 3min 48.68sec in the 1500m in Eugene, Oregon, making it three years on the spin that she has set a new world record at that distance. Whether Kipyegon wins a third successive world title in Tokyo is almost beyond question all eyes will probably be on the clock as she crosses the line."

"A year later, though, she set the current world record with a time of 8min 44.32sec before winning the world title in 2019. Eighth in that 2017 final in London was Winfred Yavi, then 17, who had recently transferred her allegiance from Kenya to Bahrain. Now 25, Yavi a private in the Bahrain army is the reigning world and Olympic champion, has clocked 8min 45.25sec this year and took four seconds off Chepkoech's mile record in the steeplechase last month. Ominous."

Armand Duplantis has repeatedly improved the pole vault world record, achieving 6.28m in Stockholm and 6.29m in Budapest after earlier failed world-record attempts at the Tokyo Olympics. Faith Kipyegon missed a sub-four-minute mile but then ran 3:48.68 for 1500m in Eugene, marking a third consecutive year she set a world record at that distance and making her a clear favorite for another world title. Beatrice Chepkoech set the steeplechase world record at 8:44.32 and won the 2019 world title; Winfred Yavi, now representing Bahrain, is the reigning world and Olympic champion with an 8:45.25 this year. The 2021 Tokyo 400m hurdles final featured Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin breaking the previous standard, with Warholm victorious.

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