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Who will replace Usain Bolt as 100m Olympic champion at Tokyo 2020?

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After Usain Bolt powered to three gold medals in his final Olympic Games, we pick out which sprinters could replace the Jamaican as the 100m champion at Tokyo 2020.

The 30-year-old waved a triumphant farewell to the Olympics, claiming gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m in Rio ahead of his planned retirement next year. 

But who will follow in the blazing footsteps of Bolt by winning the 100m in four years time? Here are five contenders that could be going for gold at the Games in Japan...

Andre De Grasse

Canada's Andre De Grasse and Jamaica's Usain Bolt
Image: Andre De Grasse has received words of support from Usain Bolt

The 21-year-old Canadian has lived up to his reputation as a future sprint star, winning the 100m bronze in Rio behind Bolt and silver medallist Justin Gatlin in a personal best time of 9.91 seconds.

Bolt himself has named De Grasse as the natural heir to his throne and the pair even shared a joke during the 200m heats, before he followed the Olympic great over the line to claim silver in the final.

A year earlier, De Grasse became the first Canadian since Bruny Surin to win a 100m medal at a major competition when he finished dead level with American Trayvon Bromell to take bronze at the World Championships.

Trayvon Bromell

 Trayvon Bromell of the United States
Image: Trayvon Bromell is the hottest young talent in the US

Another red-hot young talent, Bromell also reached the 100m final, but trailed over the line in eighth place, in a time of 10.06 seconds.

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Despite this disappointing finish, the 21-year-old has made big strides in recent years and recorded a blistering time of 9.84 seconds at last year's USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the joint 10th fastest time in history.

Bromell was given the responsibility of running the last leg for USA in the 4x100m and fell over the line in third place, but the team were later disqualified for a late baton change earlier in the race.

Nigel Ellis

Nigel Ellis from Jamaica
Image: Nigel Ellis (left) is hoping to become Jamaica's next star

The 19-year-old has been singled out as Jamaica's future star and he underlined his potential by clocking a personal best time of 10.16 while winning an Under-20 race at a Caribbean competition. 

Ellis still needs to work on his raw talent, as he was disqualified for a false start at recent trials in his home country. 

He could receive competition from Jevaughn Minzie and Kemar Bailey-Cole, two other rising Jamaican sprinters, who featured in the early rounds of the 4x100m in Brazil. 

Abdul Hakim Sani Brown

Abdul Hakim Sani Brown of Japan
Image: Abdul Hakim Sani Brown has already broken one of Bolt's records

The 17-year-old Japanese athlete was named as the 2015 IAAF Rising Star of the Year after his 100m and 200m victories at the 2015 World Youth Championships.

Sani Brown recording a winning time of 20.34 in the 200m, breaking a record time which had been set by Bolt in 2003.

The exciting teenager was denied the chance to show off his searing speed at the Olympics due to a thigh injury, but could emerge as one of the hosts' heroes in Tokyo.

Zharnel Hughes

Usain Bolt, Zharnel Hughes, Justin Gatlin
Image: Zharnel Hughes competed with Bolt and Justin Gatlin at the World Championships

Britain's young hope was also cruelly denied a place at the Games through injury as he could not shake off a knee ligament problem that he suffered in a fall. 

The Caribbean-born athlete still trains alongside Bolt at the Racers Track Club in Jamaica and at 6'3" tall, he holds a similar physical appearance.

Hughes has enjoyed success at 200m, finishing in fifth at the 2015 World Championship final, and the 21-year-old has also recorded a promising personal best time of 10.10 for the 100m this year.

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