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London 2012 Olympics: Men’s sprint events form guide

100m

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Superstar Usain Bolt was beaten not once but twice at the Jamaican Trials by world 100m champion Yohan Blake. He may yet be able to turn his form around, but history is against him as only one man – Carl Lewis – has won back-to-back Olympic 100m titles in the modern era.

Justin Gatlin is back in form and defeated Tyson Gay at the US Trials. Asafa Powell is capable of winning a medal, but it all depends on the current fitness of the injury-prone sprinter.

Form guide

1 Yohan Blake (JAM)
2 Usain Bolt (JAM)
3 Justin Gatlin (USA)
4 Tyson Gay (USA)
5 Asafa Powell (JAM)
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200m

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Betting against Bolt in two events may seem bold, but the world record-holder was going flat out at the Jamaican Trials and still wasn’t able to catch his training partner, Yohan Blake. With his 19.26 last year, Blake showed that he is the only person who can compete with Bolt at full strength.

Wallace Spearmon is no stranger to a 200m championships podium, but Christophe Lemaitre and Churandy Martina lead the European charge and could get among the medals.

Form guide

1 Yohan Blake (JAM)
2 Usain Bolt (JAM)
3 Wallace Spearmon (USA)
4 Christophe Lemaitre (FRA)
5 Churandy Martina (NED)
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400m

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In June reigning Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt clocked the fastest time in the world for three years with 44.12. But in his most recent race at the Monaco Diamond League, he pulled up on the top bend. He shrugged off any suggestions of a serious injury, but any niggle so close to a major event is never a good thing.

If he fails to make the final, it would throw the event wide open. World champion Kirani James has won in Daegu and London this year, but timed his charge too late in Monaco and was beaten by Jonathan Borlee. The other Borlee brother, Kevin, set a Belgian record of 44.56 this year, while Luguelin Santos is an exciting talent having set a world age-18 best of 44.45 in Hengelo.

Form guide

1 LaShawn Merritt (USA)
2 Kirani James (GRN)
3 Kevin Borlee (BEL)
4 Luguelin Santos (DOM)
5 Jonathan Borlee (BEL)
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110m hurdles

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Aries Merritt has come of age this season. He won the world indoor title earlier this year and has become a regular sub-13 man outdoors, running 12.93 in his past three races. Former Olympic champion Liu Xiang is back in form, although he withdrew from the final at the London Diamond League as a precaution.

World champion Jason Richardson broke 13 seconds for the first time this year, but has been regularly defeated by Merritt. Sergey Shubenkov has set a Russian record of 13.09 with more seemingly in the bag.

Form guide

1 Aries Merritt (USA)
2 Liu Xiang (CHN)
3 Jason Richardson (USA)
4 Sergey Shubenkov (RUS)
5 Jeff Porter (USA)
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400m hurdles

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After a slow start to the season, Dai Greene found his stride at the Paris Diamond League with a PB of 47.84. He was beaten by two-time world silver medallist Javier Culson, who set a world-leading 47.78. But has the Puerto Rican played his full hand already this season, and is Greene saving something special in the bag for the home crowd?

Angelo Taylor has had a low-key season, but an almost identical one to 2008 when he surprisingly regained the Olympic title he won eight years prior. 2004 Olympic champion Felix Sanchez is always a danger at major championships, while Michael Tinsley will be making his championship debut.

Form guide

1 Dai Greene (GBR)
2 Javier Culson (PUR)
3 Angelo Taylor (USA)
4 Felix Sanchez (DOM)
5 Michael Tinsley (USA)
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4x100m relay

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Jamaica has won the past three global titles and broke their own world record at last year’s World Championships. Their team is just as strong this year, making them the favourites over USA.

Trinidad & Tobago have good enough depth to run a fast relay time, but it depends on their passing. France will also be strong, while Germany last week set a national record of 38.02 to put themselves in the mix.

Form guide

1 Jamaica
2 USA
3 Trinidad & Tobago
4 France
5 Germany
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4x400m relay

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With a string of global 4x400m golds, it would be a major shock if the USA did not successfully defend their title.

The Bahamas always have good depth and this year is no different. So too do Jamaica, but the home crowd could give Britain an edge. Expect Belgium to be strong too.

Form guide

1 USA
2 Bahamas
3 Great Britain & NI
4 Jamaica
5 Belgium
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» All of the above are bite-sized versions of AW‘s Olympic Games preview. For the full version – including rankings, features, stats and predictions – get the latest copy of Athletics Weekly, out now.

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