Schedule switch allows 200m and 400m sprint double at World Championships
BySportsbeat
Published 13/04/2017 at 13:42 GMT
Athletes will be able to compete in both the 200m and 400m sprint at this summer's World Athletics Championships in London after organisers announced a schedule change to prevent the events clashing.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
After requests from athletics federations of The Bahamas and South Africa, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rubber stamped the changes at its council meeting on Wednesday.
The men's 200m first round has been moved from August 8 to August 7, and the women's 200m first round moved from August 9 to August 8 to accommodate the changes.
The decision will allow Olympic 400m men's champion Wayde van Niekirk to race in both disciplines, the latter potentially pitting him against Usain Bolt.
The 24-year-old South African smashed Michael Johnson's 400m world record at the Rio 2016 Olympics with a scintillating effort of 43.03.
Shaunae Miller, who ran to Olympic glory in Rio for the Bahamas in the women's 400m, could also be in line to attempt the double.
Miller famously dived across the line to pip US athlete Allyson Felix to Olympic gold.
"I am delighted that the council approved the 200m and 400m double," said IAAF president Sebastian Coe.
"These double headers create great excitement among both athletes and fans."
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