Athletics looks to clean up at Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO

Athletics starts at the Rio Olympics on Friday on a mission to win back the faithful.

Three athletics golds will be won on the first day of competition at the Olympic stadium, with Ethiopian star Tirunesh Dibaba favoured to make history in the women's 10,000 metres.

That is not the only key action of the day. The 24 golds on offer include Michael Phelps going for his 23rd career gold and fifth of the week, while French judo heavyweight Teddy Riner is looking for a second straight Olympic title. Politicians may also nervously watch an Egyptian judoka take on an Israeli.

After a year of drug scandals involving Russia, Kenya and other nations, track and field is looking for its stars to restore trust. And the women's 10,000m race starts the serious business.

The 31-year-old Dibaba will become the first woman to win three consecutive golds in an individual athletics event if she retains the crown won in London four years ago.

But she lost by 20 seconds to Ethiopian rival Almaz Ayana in June and Kenya's world champion Vivian Cheruiyot will also be seeking to add to Dibaba's problems.

New Zealand's Valerie Adams could also become the first woman to three titles if she can get the shot put title before Dibaba.

The 31-year-old was initially second at London 2012 but winner Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus was later found to have failed two doping tests.

Adams has suffered with injuries but has beaten reigning world champion Christina Schwanitz twice this year.

The final, and slowest, gold of the day is the 20km race walk.

Look out also for Jessica Ennis-Hill as the Britain — one of the stars of London 2012 — starts her bid to regain the heptathlon title. And the women's 100m heats start with Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also eyeing a hat-trick of victories in the 100m.

RINER ON TOP

Teddy Riner has dominated judo virtually since he won his first world title at the age of 18 in Rio. At 2.03 metres (6ft 8in) and 141 kilos (310 pounds) fighting him is not a task to be taken lightly. But Japan's Hisayoshi Harasaw says he is ready to battle the 27-year-old eight-time world champion.

The two have never fought and it would be one of the most eagerly anticipated Olympic finals if it comes off Friday.

There is also the women's 78kg title at stake. Much attention will also be on a bout between Israel's Gili Cohen and Egypt's Islam el Shahaby who is resisting pressure to withdraw because of political rivalry between Arabs and Israelis.

The Rio Games hit the one-week mark with titles also up for grabs in the equestrian team dressage, four in rowing, two in shooting, two in weightlifting, one on the first day of trampoline competition, one in archery, the tennis men's doubles, two in cycling, four in swimming — including Phelps in the 100m butterfly and Katie Ledecky in the women's 800m freestyle — and one in fencing.