S
SEARCH
M
SW
Sunday, August 8
Collect News Data

Tokyo 2020: Lamont Marcell Jacobs opens up on shock triumph

:Headline: Tokyo 2020: Lamont Marcell Jacobs opens up on shock triumph:
Italy's Jacobs took the 100m title in Tokyo on Sunday.
Sports Mole

Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs admitted he was in dreamland after his shock 100 metres victory at the Olympics.

The Texas-born sprinter clocked 9.80 seconds in Tokyo on Sunday to finish ahead of the USA's Fred Kerley and Andre De Grasse of Canada.

Jacobs, the reigning 60m European Indoor champion, became the first man to win the 100m other than Usain Bolt since Justin Gatlin in 2004.

The 26-year-old was previously a long jumper, winning the Italian Championship in 2016, and struggled to grasp what he had achieved.

"I don't know, it's a dream, a dream, it is fantastic. Maybe tomorrow I can imagine what they are saying, but today it is incredible," he said, after becoming the first European to win the Olympic 100m title since Linford Christie in 1992.

"It was my childhood dream to win an Olympic Games and obviously a dream can turn into something different, but to run this final and win it is a dream come true.

"I want to thank my family that has always supported me, my children and my mum, who has been my number one fan since I was a child, and my team, who have followed me, and those who support me.

"It is amazing, it is fantastic, it is a dream, Olympic champion in 100m, I have no words."

Kerley, who won 400m bronze at the World Championships two years ago, admitted he knew little about the new champion.

"I really didn't know anything about him. It was my first time racing him at the Monaco Diamond League (in July). He did a fantastic job," he said.

"I executed the race perfectly and I came up with a silver medal. I can't complain. The race was a beautiful race. I got a personal best and a silver medal. I am blessed to be at the biggest stage of my career."

Team GB's Zharnel Hughes, the first Briton in a men's 100m final in 21 years, was disqualified for a massive false start and was forced to watch from the sidelines. He admitted afterwards he had cramped up and had no alternative but to move early.

Yohan Blake missed out on the final meaning there were no Jamaicans in the last eight for the first time since Sydney 2000.

Jacobs, Kerley and De Grasse celebrate after the 100m in Tokyo. (Martin Rickett/PA)

The 31-year-old, the joint second fastest man in the world, then insisted it would be his last Games.

"It's definitely my last Olympics. You know track is not easy. I won't be ungrateful. I've gained a lot," he said.

Hughes stormed to win his semi-final in 9.98secs, the first time he had run sub-10 this year.

Hughes impressed in the 100m semi-finals. (Martin Rickett/PA)

After Daryll Neita reached the women's final on Saturday, it was the first time in 37 years – since the Los Angeles Games of 1984 – that Team GB had athletes reach both finals.

Reece Prescod was disqualified from the first semi-final for a false start, while CJ Ujah finished fifth in 10.11secs to bow out.

"To be honest it's just my fault, I'm not going to shy away from it, not going to blame anything, or make an excuse for it," said Prescod.

"I'm a professional athlete. I shouldn't have false started – I was amped up, I was really, really amped up."

Great Britain's Reece Prescod was disqualified for a false start. (Martin Rickett/PA)

Jacobs' win came quickly after team-mate Gianmarco Tamberi shared the high jump title with Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim after they both cleared 2.37m.

An appeal for Team GB's Daniel Rowden was being considered following the 800m semi-final after claims he was impeded. The 23-year-old missed out on the final along with Elliot Giles.

Sisters Tiffany Porter and Cindy Sember missed out on the 100m hurdles final after coming fifth and seventh respectively in the semi-finals.

Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas won the triple jump and set a huge new world record of 15.67m.

Earlier, Abigail Irozuru qualified for Tuesday's long jump final after a season's best of 6.75m.

She is joined by Jazmin Sawyers, who finished in the top 12 after jumping 6.62m, although Lorraine Ugen failed to progress with a jump of 6.05m.

Lizzie Bird became the first British woman to reach the steeplechase final after finishing fifth.

body check tags ::

amp_article__457726 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-08-01 15:47:40:
html db last update - 2021-08-01 14:36:13 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Marcell Jacobs

Click here for more stories about Italy

Share this article now:

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Read more about Marcell Jacobs Athletics
Recommended Next on SM
Tokyo 2020: Jemma Reekie feels no extra pressure to deliver
Tearful Lionel Messi gets standing ovation as he says goodbye to Barcelona
Barcelona 'attempt to block Messi's move to PSG'
USA top table as San Marino grace podium for first time - Tokyo 2020 in numbers

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.