‘The 100m was very open’ – Usain Bolt opens up on Marcell Jacobs’ Tokyo Olympics triumph
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Usain Bolt and Marcell Jacobs
Following a decade of Usain Bolt’s dominance in the men’s sprint events, the Tokyo Olympics finally saw a new 100m getting crowned. In Bolt’s absence, Italy’s Marcell Jacobs clinched the 100m title while the Jamaican’s rival Andre De Grasse took home the gold medal in the 200m finals.
While De Grasse always seemed to be the perfect candidate to continue Boult’s legacy, Jacobs pulled off an upset in the 100m sprint. When Jacob sprinted home in the final, he became the first European since Linford Christie of Great Britain in 1992 to win the 100m gold. The Italian thus ended close to three decades of dominance of the race by athletes from the Americas.
“Credit to Marcell Jacobs for stepping up his game when it mattered,” Usain Bolt
According to the legendary sprinter, Usain Bolt, the 100m event this year at the Tokyo Olympic 2020 was up for grabs with no clear favourite in the build up. The Jamaican went on to credit Marcell Jacobs, who according to Boult, stepped up when it mattered the most and hence rightfully took home the title.
“The 100m was very open this year and credit to Marcell Jacobs for stepping up his game when it mattered,” said Bolt. “It’s interesting who leads into Paris [2024].”
But when it comes to inheriting Boult’s legacy, Jacobs has a long way to go. While the Jamaican’s personal best, which made him the fastest man ever alive, stands at 9.58s, Jacobs‘ personal best is of 9.80s which he achieved at the Tokyo 2020 finals. Earlier, Bolt had himself stated that there is currently no one who can take his legacy forward in the sport.
“The sport is waiting for someone to take responsibility and say “listen to me, I’m that person now. If you want that position, you can take it. Because there is no one,” said Bolt.
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Anshuman Mahapatra
(1496 Articles Published)