5 athletes who will not defend their Olympics titles in Paris, including a Kenyan

With the June 30 deadline for track and field stars to seal their Olympics qualification finally here, a number of defending champions will be missing at the Paris 2024 Games.

This either through poor form, injury, or just misfortune, paving the way for new champions in the French capital.

Various countries completed their Olympics trials this weekend while those who were not lucky to attain the qualifying standards will hope to go through via the World Athletics rankings.

However, there is no way out for a number of top names who will have to watch the Games from home as others claim the titles they once held.

The Olympics 800m champion will not defend his title after failing to make it to the final at the Athletics Kenya Olympics trials.

Korir went into the trials under immense pressure as he had been out of form and dealt with injuries for nearly one year, and more worrying, he had not hit the Olympics qualifying standard.

Any hopes of righting those wrongs at Nyayo Stadium quickly disappeared when he struggled in his semi-final to finish sixth in 1:50.38, way slower than the 1:44.70 needed to qualify for the Olympics.

That was it for him as he paid the price for a combination of poor form and injuries in the last year.

Both the men’s and women’s 800m will have a new Olympic champion after American Athing Mu tripped and fell in the final at the US trials.

Mu was close to the finish line but was tripped and tumbled. Even though she recovered to finish, it was too little too late as she was left in tears.

With the US Olympics trials only giving tickets to the first three across the line, it was done and dusted for Mu whose appeal was later dismissed.

Both the women’s 100m and 200m will have a new Olympic champion as holder Elaine Thompson-Herrah pulled out of the Jamaican trials with an injury.

The only woman to win a sprints double will be missing in Paris after suffering an Achilles injury during the New York Grand Prix on June 9, leaving Shericka Jackson and veteran Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce with the responsibility of flying Jamaica’s flag.

Defending 400m women’s champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas will not defend her 400m Olympic title in Paris.

She sustained an injury during the 200m heats at the Bahamian Olympic Trials on Thursday and subsequently missed the 400m final.

Bahamas Athletics Association president Drumeco Archer has said consideration could be made for her to contest the relays in Paris but the 400m will have a new champion.

Olympics triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas is another one who is out of the Paris Games due to an injury.

Rojas announced in April that she will not defend her crown due to an Achilles tendon injury.

"My heart is broken and I feel so sad that I want to apologise for not being able to represent you at Paris 2024. The last hours have been very complicated. I have questioned myself and analysed why this has happened. However, I understand that, in God's plans, we are only instruments of his will,” the seven-time world champion said via an Instagram post.

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