The race is on: Olympic Park will host World Championships in August         Pic: Paul Nattall (flikr)

The world’s best athletes are coming to London this summer to compete in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships from August 4 to August 13.

Following the success of the recent London Marathon, the upcoming summer championship, to be hosted in the East London Olympic Park, promises more great performances from elite athletes.

London will be hosting some of the biggest names in the world of sport. The sportsmen and women will be competing in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

Here is our pick of the sporting superstars to look out for at this memorable event.

Olympic record breaker Usain Bolt will thrill the London crowds    Pic: Citizens59 (flikr)

[1] Usain Bolt

The 30-year-old Jamaican is set to compete in what many think will be his last major meet. Having ruled the world of sprinting for nearly a decade, Bolt has conquered every major accolade a sprinter can win.

Achieving Olympic gold, diamond league and the world championships in 100 metres, 200 metres and the relay events on multiple occasions he has solidified his position as one of the best athletes in the history of the sport.

Although Bolt has been dominant in all the major competitions, the world championships this year could be rather tricky due to the recent rise of Canadian sprinter Andre de Grasse and South African, Wayde Van Niekerk.

The eyes of the world will be fixed on the East London stadium when Bolt treats the spectators to what could be his last major appearance.

One to watch: Sprinter Wayde Van Niekerk is hot on Bolt’s heels        Pic: Citizens59 (flikr)

[2] Wayde Van Niekerk

Wayde Van Niekerk rose to fame with a spectacular performance at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. He broke Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old record in the 400 metres race by clocking 43.03 seconds.

Van Niekerk was lauded globally for this significant achievement due to the fact that he nearly broke the 42-second barrier.

Van Niekerk is considered to be one of the best athletes due to his versatility and willingness to run all the short distances of Track Athletics. He is expected to participate in the 400-metre and the 200-metre races in the World Championships.

He will provide stiff competition to both Usain Bolt and Andre de Grasse having clocked 19.90 seconds in the 200-metre event recently. He is one few 400-metre athletes who will compete in shorter distances. He may also enter the 100-metre sprint having clocked less than 10 seconds in 2016.

It would be interesting to see if he can claim the treble at the expense of Usain Bolt.

Queen of the track: Jamaican Elaine Thompson      Pic: Fillip Bossuyt (flikr)

[3] Elaine Thompson

At 24 years old, Elaine Thompson is the superstar of women’s athletics. She is one of the younger prospects among a star-studded Jamaican contingent.

Thompson won her first Olympic Gold medal in Rio de Janerio in 2016. This was her best performance to date. Since then Thompson has attempted to emulate her double at the Olympics and additionally anchored her nation in the 4 x 200 relay in the world relay in Bahamas 2017.

Thompson will be looking to add the one major medal that she lacks by winning the world championships this summer.

Going the distance: World class runner Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia     Pic: Giulio Gigante (flikr)

[4] Almaz Ayana

The record breaking Ethiopian is one of the biggest names in the international long distance circuit.

Having broken the 10,000-metre record by a staggering 14 seconds, Almaz Ayana has enjoyed a highly successful few years. She is not only the Olympic champion but also the defending 5,000 metre world champion.

She was also awarded the IAAF Female Athlete of the Year award for 2016. She edged past Elaine Thompson for the prestigious title.

Although Ayana has been dominating the women’s long distance circuit she will face a tough competition from her rival Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya. The two of them will feature in what could be called one of the fiercest rivalries of the event.

British hero Mo Farah will be hoping to repeat his track triumphs in front of a home crowd      Pic: Sue Kellerman (flikr)

[5] Mo Farah

British Athlete Mo Farah is the favourite to win the men’s long distance events. Having been crowned Olympic and World champion on multiple occasions Farah is expected to repeat his feats at the summer world championships.

Although he has competed in many long distances over the course of his career, he specialises in the 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre events.

Farah has been constantly ranked number one for his disciplines and would look to better his performances by nearing the world record times for both these events.

Having won the Olympic gold in Rio 2016, Farah will be looking to replicate his 2011 performances where he recorded his career best timings.

A spokesperson for the IAAF told Eastlondonlines: “All elite athletes, provided they stay fit and healthy, are expected to compete. The national federations will be responsible for entering the athletes in the competition.”

It looks to be a very promising summer for athletics fans. London will be looking to witness some of the fiercest rivalries in the modern era. We hope the East London stadium is able to re-capture some of the iconic moments it witnessed in the 2012 London Olympics.