Bulgarian sprinter Ivet Lalova, 20, faces strong French rivalry for an Olympics gold. Photo by Getty Images.
French sprinter Christine Arron is seen as the main challenge for young Bulgarian Ivet Lalova in the women's 100 m in Athens.
According to Bloomberg, Arron is favored to win gold over Lalova and US LaTasha Colander.
Defending champion Marion Jones, world champion Torri Edwards and Greece's Ekaterini Thanou will miss the event.
Lalova, 20, took the athletics world by storm on June 19th when she clocked the fastest 100 metres time of the year (10.77) in Plovdiv.
In 2003, she won the 100 and 200 m double at the European junior championships.