Loud and proud track and field enters Olympic fray full of star quality

Athletes train at the Stade de France on track familiarisation day. Photograph: Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters

It’s not just athletes in the latest super spikes who have a spring in their step at these Olympics. The whole of track and field does too. And the sport is increasingly not afraid to shout about it.

“Athletics is the heart and soul of the Olympic Games,” said the World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe, on Thursday. “These will be exceptional Games with jaw-dropping sport and the most exceptional talents we have seen in any generation.”