Sport
London 2012: Campbell-Brown of Jamaica chasing Olympic treble
Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown will attempt an unprecedented Olympic treble on Wednesday as South African 800m runner Caster Semenya makes her long-awaited Games debut.
Campbell-Brown, winner of the 200m at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, will become the first woman in history to win an individual athletics crown in three consecutive Games if she successfully defends her title once more.
The 30-year-old Campbell-Brown cruised into Wednesday’s final with an impressive 22.32sec in her semi-final and declared herself ready to see off the threat of rivals who include Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross.
“I am happy. I have a lot of experience, I know what to expect. Tomorrow night we know that it will be an extremely difficult event,” Fraser-Pryce said.
“My objective is just to stay focused – and run my heart out.”
Campbell-Brown’s opponents look more than capable of ending her eight-year reign as Olympic champion, however, and few would begrudge Felix in particular if the 26-year-old American strikes it lucky at the third time of asking.
Felix has finished as silver-medallist behind Campbell-Brown at the past two Olympics, but looked superb in reaching the final on Tuesday, coasting home in 22.31sec to win her semi-final.
