Olympic Track and Field 2012: Athletes Who Will Fall Short at the Finish Line

The 2008 Olympics saw Jamaica win both the men’s and women’s 100- and 200-meter sprinting events.  Jamaican Usain Bolt, who took the men’s 100 and 200 titles at the Games, also owns the Olympic records in both events.

So the fact that Bolt has been beaten in both events already this year only adds further intrigue to the track portion of the 2012 London Olympics.

Unfortunately, there are only so many medals up for grabs in events that could feature the likes of Bolt, Yohan Blake (the sprinter who defeated Bolt at Jamaica’s Olympic Trials), Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay.

Despite a recent hamstring injury, Bolt and Blake have already turned in historic performances in the 100-meter event during their careers, while Gatlin ran 9.80 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Trials this year.  This means that Gay, the United States’ current record holder in the 100-meter event, is likely to fall short at the finish line at this year’s Olympic Games.

The 200-meter event is likely to once again showcase Bolt and Blake, as well as American Wallace Spearmon.  Jamaican Jason Young, who ran a 19.86 in the event, will fall short of a medal this year.  However, at 21 years old, Young continues to add to Jamaica’s sprinting talent.

The women’s 100-meter event will also feature a past gold medal winning sprinter who has a great chance at repeating in Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.  Fraser-Pryce won the event at Jamaica’s Olympic Trials, followed by Veronica Campbell-Brown.  American Carmelita Jeter won the event at the U.S. Olympic Trials.  The dominance of these three women could mean 2008 silver medal winner Kerron Stewart will fall short of winning another medal this year.

Fraser-Pryce will have another great chance at receiving a medal in the women’s 200-meter event as she competes against American Allyson Felix.  Both women will be trying to take the gold medal from reigning champ Campbell-Brown.  However, unlike in the 100-meter sprint, Jeter will fall short in the 200-meters, as will American Sanya Richards-Ross.

Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic will fall short in the men’s 400-meter, an event that is likely to pit American LaShawn Merritt against Kirani James of Grenada.  South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius is also set to compete in the event.

On the women’s side, Amantle Montsho will compete with Richards-Ross for the 400-meter title.  Defending gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain will fall short at this year’s Games.

Great Britain’s Mo Farah is set to take on both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events in London and has a great chance at taking a medal in both events.  However, Americans Bernard Lagat and Galen Rupp could fall short with Ethiopia hardly missing a beat in the event despite Kenenisa Bekele not participating.

With Lolo Jones and Australia’s Sally Pearson set to compete in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, defending gold medalist Dawn Harper could have a tough time winning her second consecutive medal in the event.

Kenya’s David Rudisha has a great chance to take the gold in the men’s 800-meter event, but Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia will have to beat out Abubaker Kaki of Sudan and Nick Symmonds of the United States.

In some instances, the track and field events at this year’s Olympic Games will be some of the most highly anticipated. 

From the competition in both the men’s and women’s 100- and 200-meter sprints, to Farah attempting to win the gold for Great Britain, London will have its share of storylines when the track and field events begin at the start of the second week of Olympic competition.

These storylines, however, may also involve extraordinary athletes who fell short of winning a medal.