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Duplantis Spins Sha'Carri’s Move Into Warholm Showdown
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Welcome to 'Essentially Athletics', your front-row seat to the latest sports news, insights, and analysis! - powered by EssentiallySports
👋 Hey Speedsters!
Hope you’re ready for some adrenaline because the track and field world is on fire! Last time, we took a quick detour into the cinematic buzz of SPRINT 2 and cheered for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s much-anticipated return. But today, we’re diving headfirst into a double dose of action—the Diamond League and the 2024 Paralympic Games!
From Mondo Duplantis channeling his inner Sha’Carri Richardson to her own epic comeback, it’s been a wild ride. Oh, and Tara Davis-Woodhall's love-filled shoutout to hubby Hunter? Heartwarming! And the big question: Will Sydney shine in Brussels?
Stay tuned to find out!
📜 QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Mental will is a muscle that needs exercise, just like muscles of the body”
— Lynn Jennings
In today’s newsletter, we’ll uncover these top stories from the Track & Field universe:
🥇 Mondo Duplantis Adds Drama to His 100m Win!
🎉 Sha'Carri Richardson’s Historic Win
💖 Tara Davis on Wife Duty!
🤔 Sydney McLaughlin’s Diamond League Controversy Unveiled
Duplantis Spins Sha'Carri’s Move Into Warholm Showdown
For his Zurich Diamond League showdown, Mondo Duplantis' invoked a 'Sha'Carri Richardson-like' flair. As Mondo entered the Letzigrund stadium, clad in a blue robe, his high-profile entourage featured Richardson, alongside Vernon Norwood, Letsile Tebogo, Fred Kerley, and Dina Asher-Smith. But the intensity of Richardson's cheers seemed to clearly surpass that of others.
As he crossed the finish in 10.37 seconds, 0.10 seconds ahead of Karsten Warholm, Mondo emerged as the winner of the 100m sprint challenge. But not before he daggered his opponent with a cold stare, meters away from the line, a move that featured Richardson's signature style!
Unless you're living under a rock, you'll know, it is one that she pulls off quite often. To this, she reacted after her 100 win, saying, "I already did it [that same finish Mondo did in the 100], but Mondo put a little twist on it, he looked the side and run, that's the Mondo flavor."
📊 POLL OF THE DAY
Should Mondo Duplantis Compete in 100m More Often? |
The Last Poll’s Results Are Here!
Huge shoutout to everyone who took part in our last poll! We asked, “Can Sha’Carri Richardson get her Paris Olympics revenge on Julien Alfred?” and wow, it was neck-and-neck! About 42% of you thought Sha'Carri could win with a better start, and guess what? She snagged the victory anyway! Her start might’ve been shaky again, but that electric finish? Unstoppable! 🎯
30% of you believed in her all the way, and you nailed it—she was recharged and ready! Your enthusiasm fuels this community, so keep those votes coming. Stay tuned for more exciting polls! 🎉
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Sha'Carri Richardson Settles Paris Olympics Debate
You win some, you lose some. But for Sha'Carri Richardson, you might as well scratch out the latter. Labeled the 100m favorite in Paris, an air of disappointment had prevailed since the day Richardson lost the gold medal to Julien Alfred. 10.87 seconds, her time was 0.15 seconds too slow than the winning time at Stade de France, which had her exiting with a silver. But, you can now wipe that off the slate as the American has tasted redemption in less than a month.
10.84 seconds at the Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League, Richardson tore down the tracks with her exemplary performance, leaving the Saint Lucian trailing behind by 0.04 seconds. The acceleration in her final few meters was decisive, giving her an edge over Alfred, while Dina Asher-Smith nabbed bronze in 10.89s. All this while the conditions bore a bizarre semblance to Paris—rain-slicked tracks, Richardson lined up in lane 5, and her having yet another slow start. Only this time, it wasn't too lofty a margin for her to catch up from behind.
But, before she silenced the naysayers with this rematch, Sha'Carri had taken the lumps patiently. Titled 'fraud,' the American sprinter's credibility was placed on the chopping block. She was largely criticized for not being able to win gold, despite the absence of the 'big three' Jamaicans. Nonetheless, her Zurich performance comes as a fitting reply to seal the mouths shut.
Mondo Duplantis Unplugged!
Get ready for a fun sneak peek into the world of Mondo Duplantis! After the epic 100m showdown where he edged out Karsten Warholm by just 0.10 seconds, Mondo is more than just a track star! Watch this lighthearted "This or That" game to discover his favorite picks and quirky preferences. When he's not busy breaking records, here's your backstage pass into the life of one of track and field's most exciting athletes!
Tara Davis Sends Hunter a Golden Pep Talk for Paralympics Glory
Remember when Tara Davis-Woodhall was performing at Stade de France and her husband, Hunter Woodhall cheered from the sidelines? The moment she won her maiden Olympic gold, the long jumper ran to the stands and dove into his arms, as the two celebrated the win. Now, at the Paralympic Games, while Hunter is yet to step on the podium, Tara was giving him just the right pep talk. A love for the ages, isn't it?
The T64 100m finals recently concluded and Hunter Woodhall could not rise above the sixth spot, with a 10.96s on the clock. However, not all was lost as the para-athlete was on the brink of his T62 400m race. And this time, the wife had a special message to cheer him on. Taking to threads, Tara Davis added an image with Hunter and penned, “One final lap✨ this is your race! do it for you 💜 LFG” as the caption. And boy did it work like magic as Hunter bagged Paralympic gold!
Not just words, her actions resonate with the fact that she's his steady anchor. A participant at the Rome Diamond League, Tara Davis's rush to Paris to witness her husband's Olympic marvels was rather last-minute. But, not even fatigue gets in the way when her wife duties are summoned. "JK NO SLEEP! IT’S TIME TO WATCH HUNTER!!" days after she romped in her first Wanda Diamond League gold, she added this to her Instagram story, before she touched down in the City of Lights. But, will Hunter's win make them the next golden power couple? Only time will reveal.
Sydney’s Last-Minute Diamond League Move
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's return to the season at the Brussels Diamond League, for her last 200,400-meter hurrah, drew both cheers and jeers. While some fans held their breaths in anticipation, there were a few who cast doubts on her Diamond League selection, given she did not boast sufficient points. The controversy soon turned into a cliffhanger, surging past the 'speculation' phase in the blink of an eye. Until September 5, when the other shoe finally dropped.
The 4x Olympic champion who had been handed out a wildcard ticket to the League finale had her offer revoked. The Diamond League CEO, Petr Stastny upheld, no rules shall be bent. "It is not about allowing a specific athlete to compete or not. It is about rules and criteria which must be fulfilled by all to [become] eligible to compete at the [Diamond League] Final. Ms LcLaughlin-Levrone does not fulfill those criteria, either by accumulating enough points or receiving a wild card,” he remarked.
Since the series finale was not an invitational event, Sydney was officially ruled out as ineligible. However, another twist in the tale put an end to the fans' despair. The Allianz Memorial Van Damme stadium declared, "To honour Sydney’s remarkable achievements, including her unforgettable 400m hurdles world record in Paris, we’ve added two special races. She will run the 400m on Friday and the 200m on Saturday at 19h53." A last minute shocker or a lesson well learnt? We'll leave it for you to ponder upon.
📝 STORIES YOU SHOULDN’T MISS!
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Receives Special Offer From Mondo Duplantis - Full Story
Hunter Woodhall and Wife Tara Davis-Woodhall Recreate Romantic Moment at Paralympics - Full Story
Noah Lyles’ Jamaican Girlfriend Junelle Bromfield Reveals Next Project After Paris Olympics - Full Story
Track & Field Veteran Claims Letsile Tebogo and Others’ Comparisons to Usain Bolt Should Be Stopped - Full Story
That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox on Monday with more interesting stories!
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