It will be a busy opening day at the Los Angeles Olympics for the world’s fastest women.
As part of the seismic change in the schedule for the 2028 Games, track and field, not swimming, will drive the Olympics. In releasing the detailed schedule on Wednesday, organizers revealed that Day 1 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, July 15, will include all three heats of the women’s 100m.
Runners typically run a maximum of two races per day in a major event. It’s a change the men won’t have to deal with, but a women’s field that could include the two recent world champions, Shacari Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and Olympic champion Julian Alfred, has been given nearly three years to prepare for it.
“I think this highlight of the first night of competition at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was exciting when we presented it to the athletes in this way,” said Janet Evans, a gold medal-winning swimmer who serves as chief athletic officer for the Los Angeles Games. “The majority of the athletes said to me: ‘Just tell me. Tell me early, and I will start training to run three hundred meters in one day.”
The swim will be held at SoFi
Swimming has traditionally started the Summer Games, but since the opening ceremony is being held at SoFi Arena, the same meet as swimming, organizers decided to make the swap. It was not possible to set up the swimming pool in the stadium so quickly after the ceremony.
Evans, who won four Olympic gold medals in 1988 and 1992, said the prospect of swimming in what is widely considered the best new stadium in Los Angeles in front of 38,000 fans represented an opportunity her sport embraced. Swimmers also often have to miss the opening because they are competing the next day.
“Maybe I can name on hand the swimmers I know who actually attended the opening ceremonies,” Evans said.
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The timeline for the McLaughlin-Levrone duo has not been set
The schedule also makes it nearly impossible for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to attempt a double in the 400 meters and 400 hurdles.
McLaughlin-Levrone is a world record holder and two-time defending hurdles champion. She took a year off to run the 400 meters this year, where at the World Championships she became the first female runner since 1985 to run the course in less than 48 seconds (47.78 seconds). (Second-place finisher Marilidi Paulino also broke her 48.)
McLaughlin Levrone’s coach, Bobby Kersee, hinted at the possibility of her getting the double. In the past – most notably in 1996 when Michael Johnson won the 200 and 400 meters – organizers have designed the Olympic schedule to allow top athletes to try for additional medals.
But not this time. The 400 hurdles semifinals and 400m final are scheduled for July 20.
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Los Angeles consulted with World Athletics in designing the schedule, said Shanna Ferguson, head of sports and games delivery.
“I can’t speak directly about any particular athlete’s schedule or how they approach the Games, but we collaborate in developing the competition schedule,” Ferguson said.
(tags for translation) 2028 Los Angeles Olympics schedule change
