Allyson Felix has renewed hopes of a double in Rio ©Getty Images

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have agreed to an American request to alter the timetable at the Rio Olympics - which they believe will help sprinter Allyson Felix's chances of securing a golden double.

Thirty-year-old Felix, who already has four Olympic gold medals in her collection, had previously complained about the scheduling of the women's 200 metres and 400m in the Brazilian city as she believed the programme was too congested to compete for both titles.

A request for a change was made by USA Track & Field (USATF) and the IAAF have listened by moving the first round of the women's 200m forward by swapping it with the opening races of the women's 400m hurdles.

The 200m heats will now take place on the morning of August 15, with a 9.35am start, with the opening hurdles action beginning at 9.30pm that evening in the slot the 200m had originally been given.

With the women's 400m final pencilled in for the same day, with the gun firing at 10.45pm, the switch will mean that Felix and other hopefuls for the double will have more time to recuperate if they remain in contention in both events.

Felix is aiming to emulate the achievement of double winner Valerie Brisco-Hooks
Felix is aiming to emulate the achievement of double winner Valerie Brisco-Hooks ©Getty Images

The semi-finals for the 400m are scheduled for August 14 at 8.35pm with the opening rounds taking place on August 13 at 11am.

Semi-final action in the women's 200m will take place on August 16 at 10pm, with the final at 10.30pm on August 17.

"I am excited," said Felix's coach Bob Kersee to Reuters.

"She has wanted to do this double and the schedule change gives her a better opportunity to win more medals for the United States."

An IAAF statement added: "This change to the timetable makes it more feasible for women to compete in both the 200m and 400m at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games."

Felix, the 200m champion at London 2012, also won 4x100m and 4x400m relay golds in the British capital.




Her first Olympic success came in the 4x400m squad four years earlier in Beijing, while she also has nine World Championship gold medals, three silvers and a bronze.

She tweeted that she was "excited" about the schedule change.

If she wins a double in Rio, she will follow in the footsteps of American Valerie Brisco-Hooks, who achieved the  feat at  Los Angeles 1984, and France's Marie-Jose Perec who did the same at Atlanta 1996.

"Allyson is the most decorated female athlete in IAAF history and should have the chance to go for a double, competing in what likely will be her fourth and final Olympic Games," USATF chief executive Max Siegel said.

The change was backed by local organisers and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Thomas Bach, the IOC President, had made positive noises about a switch in the schedule at August's IAAF World Championships in Beijing.

The track and field programme was altered in a similar fashion in Atlanta, allowing American Michael Johnson to become the first man to complete the men's 200m and 400m double.