Slim chances for World Champs to repeat in Olympics

[jeremyp]

In 2004 only 6 men(1500, 10k, 400H, LJ, TJ, DT.) repeated their WC gold from the year before. Only one woman did. (Kluft)
In 2000 only 4 did from both sexes.
In 1996 there were 9 men, in 1992 only 1.
For the women: 1996: 6 1992: 4
So here's the question for prognosticators: who will repeat from Osaka?

My picks, Men: Gay (2), Wariner, Lagat (5k), Bekele (10K),Saladino, Liu,
Women: Felix, Jepkosgei, Jamal, Defar, Dibaba, Vlasic, Isinbyeva (oh boy already over recent history limit).

[26mi235]

Boy, those women look pretty solid, lead by Isi, but no end of real favorites in that list.

[LopenUupunut]

Perhaps unfortunately, it's largely the "somebody new almost nobody's heard of comes to the Olympics, wins, is accused of doping and quietly vanishes from the planet" thing that keeps the repeater numbers so low, and I fear we aren't in for a nothing-like-that year... therefore I don't dare make very many picks.

Men: Bekele, Liu, Walker... and Pitkämäki of course :wink:
Women: Jepkosgei, Defar, Vlasic, Savigne, Isinbayeva, Dietzsch

But it could be more.

[26mi235]

Boy, those women look pretty solid, lead by Isi, but no end of real favorites in that list.

edited to note that the indoor season raised some real questions about the favorite in the 1500.