Tonight, the grand finale in the Stade de France. The final session of athletics of the Olympic Games, and there is plenty to look forward to. James Rhodes runs through what is to come.

Whilst the running concludes with the women’s marathon tomorrow morning, the track and field action concludes tonight in the Stade de France. After nine days of exhilarating performances, captivating races, close finishes, the end is almost upon us. The curtain call, the final act.

If the saying is to leave the best till last, perhaps that is what the organisers have done.

Terrific Two Laps

The men’s 800m, an event with fast times aplenty this season, aided by pacemakers and wavelights. However, this is the Olympics. It is eight athletes racing each other, and racing alone.

Twelve years ago yesterday, David Rudisha proved it was possible when he front-ran the World Record of 1:40.91 at the 2012 Olympics. Djamel Sedjati – fastest in the world this year – has said he wants to better that time.

With Emmunuel Wanyonyi (Kenya), Gabriel Tual (France) joining him as sub-1:42 runners, there is every possibility of a fast race. Add into the mix three more who have run inside 1:43 this year; reigning World Champion Marco Arop (Canada), Mohamed Attaoui (Spain) and Bryce Hoppel (USA).

However, perhaps the most rewarding sight will be Max Burgin on the start line of an Olympics final. After so many injuries, heartbreaks, cruelly missed opportunities, this feels deserved. With a PB in his semi final (1:43.50), he enters full of confidence. To be in with a shot of a medal, you have to be in the final. He is.

Photo: Sam Mellish / Team GB

Jakob’s Time?

The men’s 5000m heats were dramatic, to say the least. Over 15% of the field across the two heats fell over, including George Mills. George (and a number of others) were advanced to the final, meaning 22 (!) athletes will take to the track. It remains to be seen how that will end.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen will be looking to avenge the results of the 1500m, where he did not make the podium. A slower start might play into his hands. However, he will be up against some of the fastest men in history, including Hagos Gebrhiwet who narrowly missed the World Record in Oslo in May.

Ugandan duo Joshua Cheptegai and Jacob Kiplimo withdrew after the 10000m. Twelve men have run inside 13 minutes, and there is a chance Kenenisa Bekele’s Olympic Record of 12:57.82 (2008) will go.

Olympic Debut

Georgia Bell has had the best year imaginable. Fourth at the World Indoor Championships, and jumps up the British all-time list over 1500m and 800m. She is joined by Laura Muir in the final of the women’s 1500m tonight. Both will be targeting success, and there is no reason not to dream of a medal for either. They go in with strong build ups and new lifetime bests; 3:53.79 for Laura and 3:56.54 for Georgia.

Photo: David Pearce / Team GB

It is hard to look beyond Faith Kipyegon for the victory. Simply the greatest athlete there has ever been over the distance, and she will be looking to win her third-in-a-row title.

Elsewhere, the session includes the finals of the 4x400m relays for men and women, with British teams in both, the women’s 100m hurdles, women’s javelin and men’s high jump.