Usain Bolt bestrode athletics as a colossus for a decade but his retirement in 2017 left a massive publicity void the sport has struggled to fill, despite a succession of amazing performances by a string of richly talented athletes.
Bolt's combination of incredible speed, big-race delivery and joyous personality helped ensure athletics maintained its position as the No. 1 sport of the Olympics, with the 100 meters, which the Jamaican won three times alongside three 200-meter golds, the absolute blue riband event of every Games.
Replacing him as such a crowd and sponsor-pleasing draw was always going to be a tough challenge, possibly an impossible one, as athletics fights an increasingly difficult battle for TV ratings.