In the men’s pole vault France’s Renaud Lavillenie may also have another world record on his mind, although first he must secure a debut world title despite having won nine major golds across the last five years. Two years ago in Moscow he was again the overwhelming favourite, only to fall to a shock defeat to Germany’s Raphael Holzdeppe.
There is the prospect of another mighty battle in the field events, with both Kenya’s Julius Yego and Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott having thrown the javelin beyond 90m this year – meaning the Czech Republic’s Vitezslav Vesely will have his work cut out to hold on to his world title.
Then there is the women’s 5,000m, where another rivalry, this time between Ethiopian teammates Almaz Ayana and Genzebe Dibaba, could see another big record go, with Dibaba having already smashed the ancient 1500m world record this summer.
But these are individual skirmishes in the bigger conflict. Should the focus still be on scandal and science rather than performances and podiums in 10 days’ time, much of that detail, no matter how impressive, will be in danger of being lost.
Athletics might need Bolt. But he is one superstar, no matter how heroic his deeds. It also needs a World Championship that is dominated by sport and sport alone. Only then can Coe’s new regime push forward to fight the battles ahead.
