Liberian athlete Joseph Fahnbulleh is convinced that Africa must gradually seize the championship from America on the sprint track.
"For a while, it's been the the Americans. There's a shift to the African side – I like that," Fahnbulleh told the media, adding: "We are taking it by storm, but slowly. We're not overwhelming, but you see more and more [African athletes] every year. I feel good about it."
Although Joseph Fahnbulleh was born in the United States, in Minnesota, at the championship the 21-year-old sprinter will represent Liberia, which his mother was forced to flee when she was 12 due to political instability.
Fahnbulleh is gradually moving towards the prize podium, having placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics and finished fourth at the the World Championships in Oregon last year.
"Every round I'm aiming to win but yes, the next logical step is third," he replies to question about his goal for this year, adding though that he "[is] not really putting that pressure on [himself]."
The sprinter has not yet had the chance to visit his mother's country of origin; however he is determined to go there as soon as possible.
"I'm waiting on time off from my mum's side so she can come with me. She is a hospice nurse so she doesn't really get that much time off. When she has time off, then I will go," he said.
This August, in the 200 meter race, Joseph Fahnbulleh will compete with South Africa's Luxolo Adams, while in the 100 meter race, he will be opposed by another South African, Akani Simbine, and Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala.