PARIS Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Kenyan Faith Kipyegon hit world record-breaking form at the Diamond League meet on July 7 in Paris in the perfect boost before the Olympics begin at the same city in three weeks.
Mahuchikh broke the 37-yearold women's high jump world record, while Kipyegon improved her own record in the women's 1,500m - two results that will make them the ones to watch at the Games.
World champion Mahuchikh set a new best of 2.10m, beating by lem the record set by Bulgaria's Stefka Kostadinova at the 1987 world championships in Rome, Italy.
"Coming into this competition, I had feelings that I could jump 2.07m and maybe 2.10m. Finally, I signed Ukraine into the history of world athletics," said Mahuchikh.
In the 1,500m, led out by two pacemakers, two-time defending Olympic champion Kipyegon broke to the front and clocked 3min 49.04sec in a superb display of running. It improved by 0.07sec her previous best set in Florence, Italy, in June 2023.
"Wow this is just amazing! I am so happy to break the world record over my favourite distance again. I can't wait to come back to Paris to defend my Olympic title," said Kipyegon.
This story is from the July 09, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 09, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WINE BAR RENAISSANCE
New bars add to the tippling scene in Singapore
Is that hairy crab you ordered the real deal?
The prized crustacean is in season, with most restaurants getting their produce from Yangcheng Lake or Lake Tai in China
From making tamales to starting a Mexican eatery, mum's the word
Making tamales stirred up memories of Ms Maribel Colmenares' late mother, so much so that she could not stop crying as she prepared the traditional Mexican staple for her home-based business.
Singapore Land Authority chief finds life lessons in memoirs and business books
Who: Colin Low, 48, chief executive of Singapore Land Authority (SLA). He joined SLA in 2021 after more than 20 years in the private sectors of real estate and hospitality.
Malaysian writer tackles trauma, female rage with sensitivity
Included in the beginning of the book by Malaysian author Hanna Alkaf is a list of trigger warnings, a much appreciated touch as the story touches on trauma and its effects.
Andre Aciman's My Roman Year a transporting memoir of adolescent exile
Most people remember their adolescence by its major furniture pieces lengthy school years, overstated rebellion, early pangs of desire.
French author's swansong proves conservatives create great art too
Purportedly his final novel, Michel Houellebecq's Annihilation is a wide-ranging vehicle for communicating his views from religion to death
My hearse is a 'sports car'
Let's Talk About Death is a five-episode docuseries that follows millennials and their loved ones as they navigate end-of-life planning, and it starts honest conversations about death and dying well.
Slaying' with Gen Z marketing
More government ministries and public institutions are embracing a worldwide social media trend, in which Gen Z interns write the marketing script for their older colleagues to present
Gen Z start-up launches Singapore's first menopause festival
Femtech start-up Surety's co-founders were inspired by their mums' experiences
