Exceptional hegemony may be seen at the Paris Olympics - the last time this happened was 116 years ago

The women’s 800 meters at the Paris Olympics will start with the heats on Friday and culminate in the final on Monday.



Representing Great Britain in the event is a formidable trio: the season’s top performer Keely Hodgkinson (SB 1:54.61), the second-ranked Jemma Reekie (1:55.61), and 17-year-old Pheobe Gill (1:57.86), who, like her compatriots, is a medal contender.

The main challengers to the British trio are Kenya’s Mary Moraa, the United States’ Nia Akins, and South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso.

Great Britain last achieved a podium sweep in Olympic athletics 116 years ago at the London Olympics in 1908, when the British took the top three spots in the 10-mile walk. Another British podium sweep in major global athletics competitions occurred in the 4000 meters steeplechase in Paris in 1900.

Great Britain's podium sweeps in major athletics competitions

Olympics

Men´s 4000 m steeplechase 1900: 1) John Rimmer, 2) Charles Bennett, 3) Sidney Robinson

Men´s 10 mile walk 1908: 1) George Larner, 2) Ernest Webb, 3) Edward Spencer

European Championships

Men´s 800 m 1986: 1) Sebastian Coe, 2) Tom McKean, 3) Steve Cram

Men´s 200 m 1998: 1) Douglas Walker, 2) Douglas Turner, 3) Darren Campbell