Now that the World Athletics Championships are over, here is a list of the top athletes who grabbed the headlines and captured the hearts of the fans:
Usain Bolt, JAM
Was it ever in doubt? The “Lightning Bolt” struck in Beijing as he stormed to another golden treble. Bolt gave the crisis-hit sport a morale boost by beating two-time doping offender Justin Gatlin in the 100 and 200 metres, before anchoring Jamaica to gold in the 4x100m relay.
Ashton Eaton, USA
Eaton retained his decathlon title and set the only world record of the championships with a lung-bursting 1,500m as a packed crowd in Beijing rose to acclaim the American iron man.
Dafne Schippers, NED
The Dutchwoman smashed a 36-year-old European record to capture 200m gold days after taking silver in the 100m. Schippers lunged for the line to beat Jamaican Elaine Thompson to the 200m title.
Mo Farah, GBR
Farah won the 5,000m and 10,000m to become the first man to complete a “triple-double” of distance titles at consecutive world championships and the London Olympics.
Aries Merritt, USA
Olympic champion Merritt won an emotional bronze medal in the men’s 110m hurdles days before undergoing a kidney transplant. The American said: “This bronze medal means more to me than my Olympic gold.”
Follow us on Twitter at NatSportUAE
