On your mark – Get set…Rio

Photo: Olympic Games debutants Christania Williams and Elaine Thompson along with veteren and defending 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will line up in the Women’s 100m, when track and field action gets underway in the Rio Olympic Games tomorrow.

Jamaicans have been patiently waiting for the Rio Olympics ‘to begin’, that despite the games officially getting underway last Saturday. For most Jamaicans, the Olympics begin when track and field begins and now they have only a day to wait.

Three athletes have already participated for Jamaica at the games for Jamaica so far. Toni-Ann Williams made her historic debut in gymnastics while swimmers Alia Atkinson, who made it to the finals of the 100m breaststroke and Timothy Wynter have had a taste of action.

Jamaica’s ‘big guns’ will now roll out beginning with Fedrick Dacres in the Men’s discus and Danniel Thomas in the Women’s shot put in Friday’s morning session. The afternoon session will see Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce begin her quest for immortality when she starts the hunts her third consecutive gold medal in the women’s 100m, while the male quarter milers, long jumpers and sole hammer thrower, Daina Levy, will also get a taste of the action.

Usain Bolt fans the world over, will have to wait an extra day to see the ‘big man’ who has his own date with destiny, as he hunts three consecutive gold medals in three separate track events, the 100m, the 200m and the 4x100m.

With a bounty of twelve medals secured in London 2012, three gold, three silver and three bronze – the expectations are high once again, with some predictions suggesting that a medal haul of fifteen is not out of the question.