BBC Sport Interactive looks at the medal prospects in each of the women's individual events at the 2003 World Athletics Championships.
100m
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White is targeting double gold in Paris
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The women's sprint is tuning up to be one of the hottest events in Paris even without the presence of sprint queen Marion Jones.
Bahamian Chandra Sturrup has exploded onto the scene with a trio of Golden League wins, the world number one spot and the world's best mark of 10.89secs.
World number two Kelli White heads the strong American challenge while Europe is well represented by reigning champion Zhanna Block of Ukraine and home favourite Christine Arron.
200m
Kelli White has a great chance of picking up a second medal over the longer sprint but she will face the world's fastest woman - US team-mate Allyson Felix.
The 17-year-old is a major contender after notching up the fastest time this season of 22.11secs and could thwart Jamaican Debbie Ferguson's bid to go one better than her World silver earned in Edmonton.
400m
Mexico's Ana Guevara is a class act over a single lap and finished last season unbeaten.
Now is the time for the 26-year-old to add to her lone bronze medal won at the worlds two years ago and as world number one it would be a major disappointment if she slipped up in Paris.
Jamaica's Lorraine Fenton and Russia's Natalya Nazarova will both be out to make sure they upset Guevara's stride.
800m
Will it be a golden season for Mutola?
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Maria Mutola is at the peak of her powers after a stunning string of Golden League performances and is on course to claim her third world gold.
The 30-year-old Mozambique athlete has set the world's fastest this year but she will be chased down by European champion Jolanda Ceplak and Austria's front-running Stephanie Graf.
1500m
European champion Sureyya Ayhan has a golden chance to become Turkey's first world track champion.
The 24-year-old ran the fastest time in six years at Zurich's Golden League meeting and is the only woman to dip under four minutes this season.
American duo Regina Jacobs and Suzy Favor Hamilton and British hopefuls Hayley Tullett and Kelly Holmes will do well to rein in the Turkish front-runner.
5,000m
Three-time champion Gabriela Szabo will renew her rivalry with Russia's Olga Yegorova in Paris.
Yegorova controversially came out on top two years ago, now the Romanian will be out for revenge.
But a strong Ethiopian contingent headed by world number one Berhane Adere could upset Szabo's plans.
10,000m
With Britain's formidable Paula Radcliffe sidelined by injury the 10,000m crown is likely to remain in Africa.
Ethiopia's world cross country champion Werknesh Kidane is the world's fastest athlete over the distance this season.
But a strong Russian contingent headed by Galina Bogomolova could also challenge.
100m hurdles
Devers battled back from chronic illness to reach the top
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Veteran American Gail Devers will be determined to regain her crown after settling for silver two years ago.
The 36-year-old world number one has lightning pace on the flat and rivals US team-mate Miesha McKelvy-Jones and Jamaica's Brigitte Foster will find her tough to beat.
400m hurdles
The scene is set for a mouth-watering encounter between new world record holder Russia's Yuliya Pechonkina and Australian Commonwealth champion Jana Pittman.
But a strong final field should also include American Sandra Glover, Romania's Ionela Tirlea and Britain's Natasha Danvers, if she is fully fit.
Long jump
Russian Tatyana Kotova has a chance to turn world silver into gold in Paris as leading long jumper Maurren Higa Maggi is suspended for alleged use of anabolic steroids.
Commonwealth champion Eva Goulbourne from Jamaica will also aim to make an impact on a global scale while Britain's Jade Johnson has a chance to put a mixed season right in Paris.
Triple jump
Reigning champion Tatyana Lebedeva, from Russia, could find defending her title easier than she imagined.
British favourite Ashia Hansen is injured, while world number one Yamile Aldama has not been included in the Cuban team as she is seeking British citizenship.
World silver medallist Francoise Mbango Etone will challenge once again as will Italy's Magdelin Martinez.
High jump
Cloete has consistently jumped over 2m this season
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South Africa's Hestrie Cloete is well placed to defend her title, setting a new African record of 2.05m as she surged to the world number one spot.
Only Sweden's European champion Kajsa Bergqvist has jumped higher this season, reaching 2.06cm - the third highest-ever jump by a woman.
Pole vault
Yelena Isinbayeva will be out to add the world title to her new world record of 4.82m set in Gateshead in July.
In what promises to be a thrilling contest, the 21-year-old will face Russian team-mate and world number one Svetlana Feofanova, as well as three-time world champion American Stacey Dragila.
Javelin
World record holder and reigning champion Osleidys Menendez carries Cuba's best hopes of a gold medal in Paris.
Russia's Tatyana Shikolenko threw a world's best 66m to lay down her medal credentials, while German veteran Steffi Nerius has also thrown consistently this season.
Shot put
Russia have strong medal chances as European champion Irina Korzhanenko and Svetlana Krivileva hold sway at the top of the rankings.
Reigning champion Yanina Korolchik is also showing form after taking a year out while China's Li Meiju is shaping up to be a real contender.
Hammer
Moreno set a new Pan American record in August
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After bursting onto the international scene at the worlds two years ago, title-holder Yipsi Moreno is set to dominate again.
The Cuban has the world's leading throw of 75.14m but Russian rival Olga Kuzenkova, who picked up silver last time, will be hoping her number one ranking will tell.
Home hopes lie with European bronze medallist Manuela Montebrun.
Discus
Title holder Natalya Sadova is still the dominant force in discus two years after winning her first major medal.
The Russian's throw of 69.38m is the world's best this year but Czech champion Vera Pospíilova is ranked world number one and will be a major threat.
Heptathlon
Eunice Barber will have spied a chance to regain her world title from Britain's Denise Lewis on home soil.
The 28-year-old French woman has the best points total this year but she and a below-par Lewis could be usurped by world indoor champion Carolina Kluft.
Marathon
Japan have high hopes of securing a gold medal as they send talented trio Mizuki Noguchi, Magako Chiba and Naoko Sakamoto onto the streets of Paris.
Kenya are also eyeing a medal sweep as former world record holder Catherine Ndereba features alongside Paris marathon champion Beatrice Omwanza.
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