Britain’s Jonnie Peacock holds the world record on the 100m and is one of the favorites for gold today
LONDON, England ● It promises to be a day of blockbuster entertainment on Day 8 of London 2012, not least at the Olympic Stadium where the crowd will witness one of the Games’ most highly-anticipated finals.
While most photographers will have their lenses firmly focused on reigning Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius ahead of the men’s 100m – T44, it promises to be a closely-contested race, with a number of athletes having a realistic chance of claiming gold.
Great Britain’s Jonnie Peacock, who has run the fastest time this season over the distance and is the current world record holder, will be hoping home advantage can play its part and help him to gold in his only event of the Games.
Also fancying his chances will be reigning world champion Jerome Singleton of the USA, along with countrymen Blake Leeper and Richard Browne, as well as South African duo Pistorius and Arnu Fourie.
In the field events, Great Britain’s Dan Greaves will aim to improve on his Beijing 2008 bronze medal in the men’s Discus Throw – F44 and rediscover the form that saw him win gold in record-breaking fashion at Athens 2004.
However, the 29-year-old will have to overcome the considerable challenge of reigning Paralympic Games champion Jeremy Campell, whose season’s-best is more the 5.5m better than Greaves, if he is to succeed on home soil.
Weymouth and Portland will witness its first Victory Cermonies of the Games as all Sailing events reach their conclusion.
The Netherlands take an unassailable lead into the final day of the Three-Person Keelboat (Sonar) event, but there could be a real battle for the remaining medal positions, with Germany, Norway and France among the nations aiming for a step on the podium.
Australia, the USA and Great Britain are all guaranteed to receive medals in the Two-Person Keelboat (SKUD18), but will be battling to decide which nation gets what colour.
Meanwhile, the Host Nation are best-placed to take gold in the Single-Person Keelboat (2.4mR), with sole female competitor Helena Lucas taking a healthy lead over Germany’s Heiko Kroger and Thierry Schmitter of the Netherlands into the final day of competition.
As the Wheelchair Fencing competition continues, France’s Laurent Francois will be looking to defend his title in the men’s Sabre – Category B after narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-finals of the men’s Foil – Category B.
Medals will also be handed out in Road Cycling, Shooting, Swimming and Wheelchair Tennis.