Doha (AFP)

A superpower of athletics, the United States have, as it often happens, flown over the Doha World Championships, concluded on Sunday with successes over 100m hurdles (Nia Ali) and 4x400m relay between men and women, equaling their gold medal record ( 14).

It's very simple, on the 17 editions of the World Championships, only four escaped the relentless domination of the USA (1983, 1987, 2001, 2015). That played in Qatar has been faithful to the tradition with 29 podiums including 14 victories, as in 2007 in Osaka and 2005 in Helsinki.

The supremacy of the Americans in 2019 was facilitated by the return to the top of the house sprinters in men, after a long parenthesis opened by the appearance on the international scene of the Jamaican legend Usain Bolt, who retired in 2017. But there are not only cars in the United States and the success of the two relays 4x400 men and women proved the wide range of athletes from across the Atlantic with a special mention for Allyson Felix.

Although a replacement after being placed in the playoffs, the 33-year-old Californian, who returned only in July after 13 months of absence due to pregnancy, added a new coronation to her impressive record after the 29th of September on the 4x400 relay. mixed m. With 13 wins at the Worlds, she surpassed Bolt in the annals in Doha, consolidating her status as the most successful athlete in the history of the competition (18). An exceptional total, to which must be added nine Olympic podiums including six titles. Great art.

- Untouchables -

Even without Felix, the USA, easy winners in 3 min 18 sec 92 / 100e, were in any case untouchable in view of the proposed casting with Dalilah Muhammad, holder of the 400m hurdles world record she improved for the 2nd On Friday (52.16), his runner-up was Sydney McLaughlin, 2nd overall at 20, and 2017 world champion Phyllis Francis.

On the men's side, shock quartet Fred Kerley, Michael Cherry, Wilbert London and Rai Benjamin, silver in the 400-meter hurdles, also looked great. And to say that the prodigy Michael Norman, injured in the semi-finals of the 400 m, was absent. So there was no suspense and the United States easily won in 2 min 56 sec 69 / 100e to close the Worlds in style.

Just before the two relays, the United States had already offered a double over 100 m hurdles with Nia Ali, crowned with a personal best (13.24) in front of her compatriot Kendra Harrison, recordwoman of the world. Ali, mother of two small children born to two different fathers (American sprinter Michael Tinsley and Canadian Andre De Grasse), then allowed himself a nice lap of honor with his offspring, draped in the stars and stripes. As a symbol of the grip of Uncle Sam's representatives on these World Championships.

© 2019 AFP