Dina Asher-Smith is a gold medal hope for Great Britain

World Athletics Championships: Who are Great Britain's best medal hopes in Doha and when do they compete?

By Sporting Life

Other Sports

Fri September 27, 2019 · 5y ago

The World Championships start in Doha on Friday with Great Britain's hopes hinging on a select few stars.

The target for Team GB to hit is between six to eight medals and the best individual hopes lie with Dina Asher-Smith, Laura Muir and Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Zharnel Hughes and Adam Gemili, with the relays always cause for optimism too.

In fact, at London 2017, the hosts only managed this target thanks to the relays, with Mo Farah's 10,000m gold and 5000m silver the only individual success in the squad.

Here we profile our main hopes for world medals, just a year away from the Olympics, and when they are competing while you can also scroll down for the full team line-up and Team GB's medal record in previous World Championships.

Dina Asher-Smith

The triple European champion is ready to challenge for gold as she competes in the 100m and 200m.

Asher-Smith finished fourth in the 200m with a brilliant run in 2017, finishing just 0.07 seconds away from a bronze despite an injury-hit build-up after breaking her foot in February.

More will be expected in Doha - especially with main rival Shaunae Miller-Uibo only running the 400m with the schedule not allowing her to compete in the 200m.

Asher-Smith followed up her history-making sprint treble at last year's European Championship with another impressive season, in which she recently won the 100m Diamond League final ahead of double Olympic and seven-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who beat her in at the London Anniversary Games.

The 23-year-old's season's best time of 10.88 that night was the sixth time out of seven starts that she'd run under 11 seconds in 2019 and that's a better strike rate than the two above her in the 100m betting - Fraser-Pryce (eight from 12) and Elaine Thompson (four from nine).

No British woman has ever become world or Olympic champion in either event and the closest the nation has ever come were silver medals in the 1948 London Games (Dorothy Manley in the 100m and Audrey Williamson in the 200m) and 1960 Olympics (Dorothy Hyman in the 200m).

At world championships level, the best a female sprinter has ever done was the 200m bronze medal that Kathy Cook earned in 1983.

Even if she doesn't top the podium, it's highly likely she'll become the first British woman to win medals in two different individual events at the same championships.

Sky Bet Odds: Asher-Smith is third favourite for 100m glory at 9/4 (click here to bet) behind Fraser-Pryce (13/8) and Elaine Thompson (15/8) but she's 4/6 favourite to triumph over 200m (click here to bet) and 7/2 for the sprint double.

When will she compete? 100m. Heats: 14:30 BST, Saturday, 28 September. Semi-finals: 19:20 BST, Sunday, 29 September. Final: 21:20 BST, Sunday, 29 September

200m. Heats: 15:05 BST, Monday, 30 September. Semi-finals: 19:35 BST, Tuesday, 1 October. Final: 20:35 BST, Wednesday, 2 October

Laura Muir

A torn calf muscle at the Anniversary Games in London in July has hit the Scottish star's preparations for Doha.

Muir, with five European gold medals, missed the British Championships last month and has played catch up.

However, the 26-year-old is still one of the best in the world having become the second fastest female 1500m runner ever behind Genzebe Dibaba thanks to a blistering run in Paris three years ago and as long as she can overcome the injury a maiden world title is not out of the question.

Muir's best time this year of 3:56.73 was set in Rome back in June and that makes her third fastest in 2019 behind Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands (3:55.30) and Dibaba of Ethiopia (3:55.47) - although the latter has withdrawn due to injury - while it's quicker than what defending champion Faith Kibyegon has managed (3:56.41).

Sky Bet Odds: Muir is third favourite for gold at 6/1 (click here to bet) behind Sifan Hassan (4/5) and Faith Kibyegon (7/2).

When will she compete? 1500m. Heats: 15:35 BST, Wednesday, 2 October. Semi-finals: 21:00 BST, Thursday, 3 October. Final: 18:55 BST, Saturday, 5 October

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

KJT came second in the heptathlon to Olympic champion Nafi Thiam at the European Championships last year in a world-class field and has high hopes of going one better on the second biggest stage of all.

She proved her global credentials in Berlin as the move to Montpellier in early 2017 continues to pay off.

Gold at the Commonwealth Games and victory in the World Indoors pentathlon last year also proved she can perform at a major championship after mistakes at the 2015 and 2017 Worlds and 2016 Olympics.

Belgium's Thiam remain the one to beat but Johnson-Thompson has been the heir-apparent to Jessica Ennis-Hill and can push the defending champion all the way.

Sky Bet Odds: KJT is second in the betting at 9/4 behind 4/11 favourite Thiam while next in the running is 16/1 shot Ivona Dadic (click here to bet).

When will she compete? Heptathlon day one: 15:05 BST, Wednesday, 2 October. Day two: 16:15 BST, Thursday, 3 October

Zharnel Hughes

The 24-year-old won the 100 metres European title last year but the World Championships is a step up.

Favourite Christian Coleman runs after avoiding a ban and defending champion Justin Gatlin, Andre De Grasse and Yohan Blake all carry their own threat.

Coleman had been charged with missing three drugs tests and was facing an automatic one-year ban. The 23-year-old had denied the charge and is free to add to the silver he won behind Justin Gatlin two years ago.

With no Usain Bolt, who retired after London 2017, it is a more open field - although Hughes will have to improve after failing to sparkle at the British trials.

He is trained by Bolt's former coach Glen Mills while on fastest times set this year, Hughes is ranked eighth, behind Coleman and Gatlin but ahead of Blake and De Grasse, having run a best of 9.95 seconds in London in July.

Hughes will also run in the 200m alongside team-mate Adam Gemili but neither are expected to challenge hot favourite Noah Lyles and any spot on the podium would be an achievement.

Sky Bet Odds: Hughes is fifth favourite for the 100m title at 14/1 behind Christian Coleman (4/7), Justin Gatlin (4/1), Andre De Grasse (10/1) and Yohan Blake (12/1) (click here to bet), although he's as short as 7/4 to win any medal. In the 200m, Hughes is 33/1 in a market dominated by 1/8 favourite Noah Lyles of the USA. (click here to bet).

When will he compete? 100m. Heats: 16:05 BST, Friday, 27 September. Semi-finals: 16:45 BST, Saturday, 28 September. Final: 20:15 BST, Saturday, 28 September

200m. Heats: 15:05 BST, Sunday, 29 September. Semi-finals: 18:50 BST, Monday, 30 September. Final: 20:40 BST, Tuesday, 1 October

Adam Gemili

The sprinter is out to prove he is not just a relay runner and revealed last month he keeps a list of quotes from critics as inspiration.

Gemili, who lost out on Olympic 200m bronze in 2016 by three thousandths of a second, has been in good form and won the 200m at the British Championship in a championship record time of 20.08 seconds.

It is almost hard to believe he is still only 25 but, with the Olympics next year, time is ticking away.

Sky Bet Odds: Gemili doesn't hold much hope of a gold in either 100m or 200m and is priced up at 25/1 and 50/1 respectively although he may attract a few punters at 6/1 for a medal in the shorter distance.

When will he compete? 100m. Heats: 16:05 BST, Friday, 27 September. Semi-finals: 16:45 BST, Saturday, 28 September. Final: 20:15 BST, Saturday, 28 September

200m. Heats: 15:05 BST, Sunday, 29 September. Semi-finals: 18:50 BST, Monday, 30 September. Final: 20:40 BST, Tuesday, 1 October

Full Great Britain & Northern Ireland team

Apart from the big guns mentioned above, Beth Dobbin in the 200m, Holly Bradshaw in the pole vault and Matthew Hudson-Smith, last year's 400m European champion, are all outside medal hopes for Britain. Here is the full team...

MEN

100m - Ojie Edoburun, Adam Gemili, Zharnel Hughes
200m - Miguel Francis, Adam Gemili, Zharnel Hughes
400m - Matthew Hudson-Smith, Rabah Yousif
800m - Elliot Giles, Kyle Langford, Jamie Webb
1500m - Neil Gourley, Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman
5000m - Andrew Butchart, Ben Connor, Marc Scott
3000m Steeplechase - Zak Seddon
110m Hurdles - Andrew Pozzi
400m Hurdles - Chris McAlister
Pole Vault - Harry Coppell
Triple Jump - Ben Williams
Hammer - Nick Miller
Decathlon - Tim Duckworth
Marathon - Callum Hawkins
20km Race Walk - Tom Bosworth, Callum Wilkinson
50km Race Walk - Cameron Corbishley; Dominic King
4x100m Relay - Ojie Edoburun, Miguel Francis, Adam Gemili, Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, CJ Ujah
4x400m Relay - Cameron Chalmers, Dwayne Cowan, Toby Harries, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Martyn Rooney, Lee Thompson, Rabah Yousif.

WOMEN

100m - Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, Asha Philip
200m - Dina Asher-Smith, Beth Dobbin, Jodie Williams
400m - Emily Diamond, Laviai Nielsen
800m - Alexandra Bell, Shelayna Oskan-Clarke
Lynsey Sharp; 1500m - Sarah McDonald, Laura Muir, Jemma Reekie
5000m - Jessica Judd, Eilish McColgan, Laura Weightman
10,000m - Eilish McColgan, Steph Twell
3000m Steeplechase - Elizabeth Bird, Rosie Clarke, Aimee Pratt
100m Hurdles - Cindy Ofili
400m Hurdles - Meghan Beesley, Jessica Turner
High Jump - Morgan Lake
Pole Vault - Holly Bradshaw
Long Jump - Abigail Irozuru; Shara Proctor
Shot Put - Sophie McKinna
Heptathlon - Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Marathon - Tish Jones, Charlotte Purdue
4x100m Relay - Dina Asher-Smith, Kristal Awuah, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Daryll Neita, Ashleigh Nelson, Asha Philip
4x400m Relay - Finette Agyapong, Amy Allcock, Zoey Clark, Emily Diamond, Beth Dobbin, Laviai Nielsen, Jessica Turner, Jodie Williams.

Medals Won By Team GB at World Championships

Team GB have won 99 medals (22 golds, 33 silver & 38 bronze) at the World Athletics Championships since the first in 1983, so whoever gets them off the mark in Doha will have the honour of bringing up the century.

1983: 7 (Two Golds: Steve Cram 1500m, Daley Thompson Decathlon)
1987: 8 (One Gold: Fatima Whitbread javelin)
1991: 7 (Two Golds: Liz McColgan 10,000m, Men's 4x400m relay
1993: 10 (Three Golds: Linford Christie 100m, Colin Jackson 110m hurdles, Sally Gunnell 400m hurdles)
1995: 5 (One Gold: Jonathan Edwards triple jump)
1997: 6 (One Gold: Men's 4x400m relay)
1999: 7 (One Gold: Colin Jackson 110m hurdles)
2001: 2 (One Gold: Jonathan Edwards triple jump)
2003: 3 (No Golds)
2005: 3 (One Gold: Paula Radcliffe marathon)
2007: 6 (One Gold: Christine Ohuruogu)
2009: 7 (Two Golds: Phillips Idowu triple jump, Jessica Ennis-Hill heptathlon)
2011: 8 (Three Golds: Mo Farah 5000m, Dai Greene 400m hurdles, Jessica Ennis-Hill heptathlon)
2013: 7 (Three Golds: Mo Farah 5000m & 10000m, Christine Ohuruogu 400m)
2015: 7 (Three Golds: Mo Farah 5000m & 10000m, Greg Rutherford long jump, Jessica Ennis-Hill heptathlon)
2017: 6 (Two Golds: Mo Farah 10000m, Men's 4x100m relay)