August in review: Stars shine at athletics and cycling Worlds

Monthly review and preview 30 Aug 23

Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Josh Kerr led Great Britain to a glorious ten medal haul at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, as British Athletics equalled their best-ever outing at the event.

Two-time Olympic heptathlete, Johnson-Thompson soared to an incredible gold in Budapest, adding to her 2019 title in brilliant fashion after a personal best in the javelin and a 6740-point performance.

But KJT was not the only British gold medallist on the shores of the Danube, with Kerr topping the podium in the men's 1500m.

A victory for the ages, the Scot over-powered favourite Jakob Ingebrigtsen on the home stretch to seal the title of world champion, following in the footsteps of Jake Wightman, who won gold in the event a year ago in Eugene.

Individual medals also came for Keely Hodgkinson and Matthew Hudson-Smith who booked silver in the 800m and 400m respectively, whilst super sprinter Zharnel Hughes dashed to bronze in the men's 100m.

With several relay medals also in the mix, including all three 4x400m teams on the podium, it was a champs to remember in Hungary.

Read more: Paris Pointers from the World Athletics Championships

However, before the athletics came the cycling and all eyes turned to Glasgow in early August for the UCI World Cycling Championships.

With six medals on the track and one in the park, British Cycling clinched four rainbow jerseys in Scotland.

Emma Finucane made history as she stormed to sprint gold, riding the fastest-ever 200m by a woman at sea level in the qualifiers, and smashing the British record with a new time of 10.234s in the process.

Elinor Barker and Neah Evans soared to a stunning gold medal in the women's Madison.

After the final was halted with just two laps left due to an onslaught of injuries, the dynamic duo held on to their lead in an intense final lap, taking a total of 28 points.

Read more: Olympic cycling results breakdown

Elsewhere, Josie Knight, Anna Morris, Katie Archibald and Barker roared to World Championship gold in the women's team pursuit and will be out to reclaim their Rio 2016 title in Paris next year.

Off the track, gold also came in the BMX as Kieran Reilly laid down a monster run of 95.80 to clinch his maiden world title whilst Tom Pidcock retained his mountain bike crown with a dominant victory.

Alex Yee and Beth Potter stormed to gold at the Triathlon Olympic Test Event in Paris.

Surrounded by the stunning views of the French capital, the British pair laid down a marker one year out from the Games before claiming mixed relay silver alongside Barclay Izzard and Kate Waugh.

Taking in the sights of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Elysees, it was hard to deny that the event is set to be a big crowd pleaser next summer.

The GB Kite Girls led the way at the Allianz World Sailing Championships as Ellie Aldridge roared to silver and Lily Young claimed bronze in The Hague.

Read more: Medal moments and Olympic quotas

A staggering total of eight Olympic quota places were secured on the water as medals also came for Emma Wilson (women's iQFoil bronze), Micky Beckett (ILCA 6 silver) and Anna Burnet and John Gimson (mixed multihull silver).

At the EuroHockey Championships in Germany, England (the team reliant Team GB's qualification for Paris 2024) fought to an incredible silver medal in their first European final since 2009.

A tense semi-final battle against Germany went all the way to a shootout and keeper James Mazarelo was the hero. Clinching a definite medal and setting up a brilliant final.

Joe Choong was back in business at the Modern Pentathlon World Championships on home soil in Bath.

The Olympic champion retained his world title in style, holding a 10-second lead going into the laser run due to his dominant performances in the other disciplines.

And it was a shower of medals for Britain, as Kerenza Bryson soared to a brilliant bronze and clinched Team GB a second quota spot for the Paris 2024 Games in the process.

And Ros Canter took the European eventing crown on Lordships Graffalo while Kitty King won silver before the pair teamed up with Yasmin Ingham and Laura Collett to win team gold.

As we head into September, there is no slowing down as athletes battle for even more quota places and World and European Championships reign supreme.

Rowing World Championships; Belgrade, Serbia; 3-10 September

Emily Craig and Imogen Grant will look to defend their double sculls world title in September at rowing's main qualification event for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The duo will be joined by the reigning men's four world champions whilst triple world champion Helen Glover takes to the water in the women's four.

European Dressage Championships; Riesenbeck, Germany; 4-10 September

Britain's dressage riders head to Germany for the first week of September, with the Tokyo trio of Charlotte Dujardin, Lottie Fry and Carl Hester all looking to make their mark. The team grabbed silver last time out in 2021, whilst Dujardin battled to freestyle dressage bronze.

Canoe Slalom World Championships; Lee Valley, England, 19-24 September

The wild waters of Lee Valley will be back in action this September, with Britain's best paddlers ready to compete in front of a home crowd. Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Mallory Franklin, European Games champion Ryan Westley and reigning extreme kayak world champion Joe Clarke are set to start.

Breaking World Championships; Leuven, Belgium; 23-24 September

The newest Olympic sport will be making moves in September at the World Breaking Championships. The best B-Boys and B-Girls from across the world will battle it out for the title with Britain expected to send two athletes.

Artistic Gymnastics World Championships; Antwerp, Belgium; 29 September - 8 October

Max Whitlock will return to major competition for the first time since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Antwerp. He will be joined by the world bronze medal-winning team of Jake Jarman, Courtney Tulloch and James Hall while Harry Hepworth makes his Worlds debut. Three-time world medallist Jessica Gadirova takes to the floor in the women's team, joined by a strong side of Ondine Achampong, Ruby Evans, Alice Kinsella and Georgia-Mae Fenton.

Sportsbeat 2023

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