Reporting from Tokyo
TOKYO — Marcell Jacobs showed the world on Sunday (1 August) that he is the new fastest man in the world, following Usain Bolt’s dominance in the men’s 100m for the past three Olympics.
The unfancied Italian clocked 9.80 seconds at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium to pip Fred Kerley of the United States (9.84sec) to gold. Canada’s Andre de Grasse took the bronze in 9.89sec.
Jacobs becomes the first Italian to ever win the Olympic men’s 100m race.
Bolt’s Olympic record of 9.63sec remains intact for at least until the 2024 Paris Games. His world record of 9.58sec, set in 2009, continues to be untouchable too.
There was major shock in the semi-finals, as pre-race favourite Trayvon Bromell – who recorded a world-best 9.77sec this year – crashed out after clocking only 10.00sec to be placed 10th overall.
The American had been aiming to win gold in Tokyo after enduring a nightmarish run of injuries, starting with a torn Achilles suffered during the 4x100m relay final at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Su Bingtian was the surprise fastest qualifier in the semi-finals, as he clocked an Asian record 9.83sec to become the first Chinese to qualify for the men’s 100m final. He eventually clocked 9.98sec in the final to finish sixth.
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