Heavy rain caused major disruption at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, forcing the suspension of several key field events and leaving athletes and fans frustrated.
The downpour hammered Japan National Stadium just as the men’s discus final was about to get underway, prompting officials to halt proceedings entirely and reschedule for a later session.
The women’s high jump final, already deep into competition, was also paused with just a handful of jumps left to decide the medals.
It was a frustrating moment for athletes who had already warmed up and were ready to compete, with many seen sheltering under ponchos and huddling near the tunnel area as they waited for news.
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Despite the field event chaos, the track programme pressed ahead – and the women’s 4x100m relay final provided the perfect antidote to the dreary weather.
On a slick track, Team USA produced a flawless display to storm to gold, holding off a late charge from Jamaica.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden got the Americans off to a flying start, handing over to Twanisha Terry.
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Athletes were forced to wait on the track at the World Athletics Championships
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Kayla White kept the momentum before Sha’Carri Richardson, the 100m world champion, anchored brilliantly to seal victory in 41.82 seconds.
Jamaica, powered by track legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, finished just 0.04 seconds behind to claim silver, with Germany snatching bronze.
Team GB finished agonisingly fourth, just outside the medals.
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Athletes took cover from the rain at the World Athletics Championships
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For Fraser-Pryce, now 38, the silver marked her 25th career medal across World Championships and Olympic Games – an extraordinary feat in a career that has spanned nearly two decades.
Earlier in the day, British fans had reason to celebrate as Georgia Hunter Bell and Keely Hodgkinson delivered a historic double medal performance in the women’s 800m final – the first time in 41 years that two British athletes have shared a global middle-distance podium.
Hunter Bell, who switched focus from 1500m to the shorter distance this season, produced a personal best 1:54.90 to take silver, while Hodgkinson ran her third-fastest ever time – 1:54.91 – to claim bronze by the narrowest of margins.
“I felt pretty good at the start and it was quick out there,” Hodgkinson said after the race.
“There was a bit of tussling and surging that might have wasted some energy but I was in it to win it.
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Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell pose with their medals at the World Athletics Championships | REUTERS“When you go for gold, you risk dropping off the podium – I’m happy we both got medals. After the year I’ve had, I can’t be too disappointed.”
Hunter Bell echoed the sentiment, saying: “I knew it was going to be fast, so I was just like, don’t get dropped.
“I’m so happy, the fastest time I’ve ever run.”
With the rain forcing officials to rethink Saturday’s schedule, attention now turns to a packed Sunday session where the rescheduled discus and high jump finals will add even more drama to an already electric World Championships.