Noah Lyles, Faith Kipyegon Missing in Action: Stars Yet to Compete This Season Ahead of Paris 2024

• Faith Kipyegon leads a list of world-beating athletes who are yet to race competitively this season in their favourite disciplines
• Kipyegon, chasing a third consecutive 1,500m Olympic title, suffered a muscle issue that saw her withdraw from the Eugene DL
• Sports Brief looks at the other athletes who are yet to compete in 2024, with the Paris 2024 Olympics less than 50 days away

In an Olympic year, one would expect top track and field athletes to ramp up their fitness by participating in many events in the build-up to gauge their readiness for the Paris games.

However, a couple of stars have opted to take the opposite approach, delaying their opening races of the season.

Some of the top athletes have been hampered by injury, while others' reasoning remains unclear, with less than 50 days to the 2024 Olympics.

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Athletes who are yet to open 2024 outdoor season

Sports Brief looks at the top athletes who are yet to compete in the outdoor season in their preferred disciplines this season.

1. Faith Kipyegon - 1500m, 5000m

Faith Kipyegon was the Woman of the Year in 2023, scooping one of the six awards for Athletes of the Year. The double Olympic champion in the 1,500m has already qualified for the Paris Olympics but is yet to qualify for the 5,000m.

She was supposed to open her season at the Prefontaine Classic on May 25 but withdrew due to what she cited as a 'small muscle problem'. Kipyegon will now open her season at the Kenya Olympics trials on June 14.

2. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce - 100m

In what is expected to be her final year after a highly successful track career, many fans would have wanted to see more of the Mommy Rocket.

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The Jamaican sprint sensation confirmed that Paris 2024 will be her last dance. The five-time World 100m champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist picked up a muscle injury at the tail end of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

The 37-year-old has shared videos of her training but her fitness remains in question. The Jamaica Olympic trials are slated for June 27.

3. Athing Mu - 800m

The reigning Olympic champion was supposed to open her season at the Prefontaine Classic, but her coach, Bobby Kersee, stated she had lingering hamstring issues, as reported by Athletics Weekly.

At the classic, she would have faced off against world champion, Mary Moraa, and multiple medalist, Keely Hodgkinson.

The American Olympic trials start on June 21, and we might see the 21-year-old begin her season then.

4. Shaunae Miller-Uibo - 400m

Four months after giving birth, Miller-Uibo attended the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and competed in the 400m. Although she failed to advance out of the heats, this was a strong indication that she wanted to make a swift comeback.

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However, the Bahamian is yet to compete in a solo 400m this year. She has raced in the 150m at the Atalanta City Games and the 4 by 400m relays.

The 30-year-old is a double Olympic champion.

5, Noah Lyles - 200m

Well, this is debatable inclusion, given that Lyles has been 'in our faces' literally the whole year. In his pursuit of winning four gold medals in Paris, the American started his season early at the World Indoors.

He has also competed in the 150m at the Atalanta City Games and a couple of 100m, but he has yet to race in his favourite 200m.

Lyles is a three-time world champion in the 200m. He has indicated he will compete in his first 200m race of the season on June 9.

Other names include Erriyon Knighton, who, despite competing in the indoor season, is yet to race due to injury. Venezuelan triple jumper, Yulimar Rojas, was ruled out of Paris 2024 after tearing her Achilles tendon early in the season.

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Noah Lyles beaten by Oblique Seville in Jamaica

Sports Brief also previously reported that Oblique Seville beat Lyles at the Jamaica Grand Prix on June 1.

The Jamaican surprised the world champion by clocking the fastest time in 100m this year at 9.82 seconds.

Lyles cooked 9.85 seconds, while Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omnayla, was third with 10.02 seconds.