Eight stars to watch out for in Club Games: It’s 11 days of world class competition in Gold Coast

South Africa's Caster Semenya wins the final of the women's 800m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
 

With fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt retired, Blake has a chance to step out of the sprint legend’s shadow.

English swimmer Adam Peaty and Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake will be among the world-class competitors in action when the Commonwealth Games begin tomorrow in Australia’s Gold Coast.

Ahead of the opening ceremony, AFP Sport picks out eight stars to watch during the April 4-15 showpiece.

Valerie Adams (shot put, NZL)

Adams seems to have been around for ever and this will be her fifth Commonwealths -her haul so far is three gold and one silver. Still only 33, the Kiwi dominated women’s shot-put for more than a decade. Her remarkable reign includes winning 107 major competitions in a row from 2006 to 2014 and two Olympic titles.

Yohan Blake (athletics, JAM)

With fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt retired, Blake has a prime opportunity to step out of the sprint legend’s shadow. The 28-year-old Blake is the second fastest man of all time in the 100m and 200m -behind Bolt -but has never won a Commonwealth Games medal after skipping Glasgow 2014. Blake revealed that Bolt, who will attend the Games as an ambassador, is expecting him to win.

Lee Chong Wei (badminton, MAS)

Lee is a Malaysian with magic in his racquet. The badminton star boasts a formidable trophy haul and is reaching the end of a great career. His triumphs include Commonwealth gold in 2006 and 2010. He would have been a multiple Olympic champion too, but lost the final to Lin Dan in 2008 and 2012, and fell to another Chinese player, Chen Long, in 2016.

Tom Daley (diving, ENG)

The 23-year-old with the boy-band looks leads England’s hopes in the diving and is also one of the biggest stars at the Games. He is a double world champion in the 10m platform. He also won gold at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Mack Horton (swimming, AUS)

The bespectacled Horton is the reigning Olympic 400m freestyle champion and is also slated to go in the 200m and 1,500m events at the Commonwealths. The 21-year-old’s preparations hit a snag in the build-up when he was stung by a bee and suffered an allergic reaction, his arm ballooning in size.

Adam Peaty (swimming, ENG)

The Englishman is the 100m breaststroke Olympic champion and world record-holder in the 50m and 100m. He will also be defending his Commonwealth title in the 100m.

Caster Semenya (athletics, RSA)

The 27-year-old South African runner is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion over 800m. She will be strong favourite to pull off an 800m and 1,500m double in Australia and has even been tipped for a new world record over 800m if she hits top form.

Elaine Thompson (athletics, JAM)

Thompson is the 100m and 200m Olympic champion and another hoping to grab the headlines following the retirement of fellow Jamaican track star Bolt. She was fifth at the 2017 World Championships.

Athletics
Kenyan stars ready for World Cross showdown in Belgrade
By Ben Ahenda 1 day ago
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Tanak urges Kenyan children to take up motorsports as a career
Rugby
SCHOOLS: From the classroom to the field, Kisumu Girls ready to lift national rugby trophy
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Neuville clinches Kasarani stage as Hyundai makes intention known