Born in El Paso, Texas before moving to Italy, Lamont Marcell Jacobs is the world’s fastest man after claiming gold by winning the 100-meter dash with a time of 9.80 in the 2020 Olympics on Sunday in Tokyo.
Jacobs made up for a slow start, tracking down and passing the field of runners near the midway mark, where he held on to give Italy its first gold medal in the event.
Although the field had no clear favorite, Jacobs’ prelims time of 9.94 pushed him among medal potential.
Jacob and his mother departed Texas a month after he was born to live in her native country, Italy.
Another Texas native, Fred Kerley, finished second, picking up a silver medal in the 100-meter dash. The previous 400-meter dash runner turned in a 9.98 in the semifinals to advance to the finals and led the race until Jacob closed in, taking charge of the race. Still, Kerley’s accomplishments placed him in the history books.
Without the presence of Usain Bolt, the world braced itself for a new champion. The wide open field featured several medal contenders, including 2016 bronze medal finisher Canada’s Andre De Grasse, who took bronze on the evening.
In another action, Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn set an Olympic record in the semifinals by finishing the 100-meter hurdles in 12.26 before defeating world record holder Kendra “Keni” Harrison in the finals to claim the gold medal in a time of 12.36. Harrison’s 2016 record of 12.20 still stands.
American swimmer Caeleb Dressel won five gold medals. His events included the 100-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle relay, 400-meter medley relay, and 50-meter freestyle.
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