Tokyo: Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs stunned everyone to claim the Tokyo Olympics men’s 100m gold on Sunday. A former long jumper, Jacobs claimed Italy’s first-ever Olympic 100m gold in 9.80m. It is also the first time Jamaican legend Usain Bolt isn’t a part of the Olympics.
Pre-event favourite, the USA’s Fred Kerley took silver in a personal best 9.84s while the bronze expectedly went to Canada’s Andre De Grasse, his second consecutive bronze, in 9.89s. Highly-rated US champion and world leader Trayvon Bromell, however, failed to qualify for the final.
“It’s a dream, it’s fantastic,” Jacobs said. “Maybe tomorrow I can imagine what people are saying, but today it is incredible.” Nobody expected Jacobs even for a podium finish. “I really didn’t know anything about him,” Kerley said.
Yet again, even more history being made at #Tokyo2020
Lamont Marcell Jacobs is the first Italian 🇮🇹 to win the #Athletics – Men's 100m 👏#UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/unaSBWw8NJ
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 1, 2021
De Grasse added: “I didn’t expect that. I thought my main competition would have been the Americans, but definitely he came to play. He executed. He did his thing so congrats to him.” Sunday also marked the end of Jamaican great Yohan Blake’s Olympics career.
The 31-year-old, who won Worlds 100m in 2011 and silver at the 2012 Olympics and is a two-time Olympic relay gold medallist, finished sixth in his semifinal in 10.14s.
“Definitely my last Olympics,” Blake said. “You know track is not easy. I won’t be ungrateful. I’ve gained a lot. I’m still the second fastest man in history, no one can take that away from me.”
Yulimar Rojas creates history in Tokyo
Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas created history in Tokyo in the women’s triple jump final. She jumped to a world record 15.67m to land the country’s first Olympic gold in athletics. Starting in second order, Rojas’ giant leap broke the Olympic record set 13 years ago by Francoise Mbango Etone.
Yulimar Rojas🇻🇪 has done it!
She has set a new World Record in women's triple jump of 15.67m at #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/hczRXvYBEd
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 1, 2021
Patricia Mamona set a Portuguese record at 14.91m and Cuba’s Liadagmis Povea jumped 14.70m to clinch silver and bronze respectively.
