Usain Bolt ran 9.81 in the 100m final tonight in Rio to win his seventh career Olympic gold medal. He is the first athlete in athletics to win back-to-back-to-back golds in an event on the track.
Bolt has been criticized for having a slow start throughout the rounds and tonight was no different. His reaction time was the second-slowest in tonight's final, but he continues to dominate over the final strides of the race. American Justin Gatlin was looking good as gold only until Bolt surpassed him in the final meters.
Bolt was quick to tweet, er, have his friend tweet him for?
Bolt has been criticized for having a slow start throughout the rounds and tonight was no different. His reaction time was the second-slowest in tonight's final, but he continues to dominate over the final strides of the race. American Justin Gatlin was looking good as gold only until Bolt surpassed him in the final meters.
Bolt was quick to tweet, er, have his friend tweet him for?
Gatlin earned silver in 9.89, joining Bolt as the only men to ever win three individual Olympic medals in the 100m. Gatlin won gold in 2004 and bronze in 2012.
USC alum and Canadian native Andre De Grasse finished third with a new personal best time of 9.91 to earn bronze in his first Olympic appearance.
Bolt's health was in question after he pulled out of the Jamaican trials due to a hamstring injury. He won the London Diamond League 200m in 19.89 on July 22, proving good enough fitness to be selected for the Jamaican Olympic team.
World bronze medalist and 60m World Indoor Champion Trayvon Bromell finished eighth in 10.06. The former Baylor Bear finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 9.84, but injured his achilles earlier in the season. After the race, Bromell confirmed he would undergo surgery on his achilles after "one more race."
USC alum and Canadian native Andre De Grasse finished third with a new personal best time of 9.91 to earn bronze in his first Olympic appearance.
Bolt's health was in question after he pulled out of the Jamaican trials due to a hamstring injury. He won the London Diamond League 200m in 19.89 on July 22, proving good enough fitness to be selected for the Jamaican Olympic team.
World bronze medalist and 60m World Indoor Champion Trayvon Bromell finished eighth in 10.06. The former Baylor Bear finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 9.84, but injured his achilles earlier in the season. After the race, Bromell confirmed he would undergo surgery on his achilles after "one more race."
And shortly after, he pretty much told us he would be running in the 4x100m relay.
But now, we wait for this magical match-up:
Wayde van Niekerk Runs 43.03, Breaks 400m World Record!
By Meg Bellino
Wayde van Niekerk broke the 400m World record--straight outta lane eight!--tonight in Rio. The South African native ran 43.03 to surpass Michael Johnson's 43.18 mark set in 1999. This is his second-consecutive global 400m title after winning the world championship in Beijing last summer.
The 24-year-old Van Niekerk's season progression is impressive, per the website tilastopaja.
2013: 45.09
2014: 44.38
2015: 43.48
2016: 43.03
2012 Olympic Champion Kirani James and 2008 Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt claimed silver and bronze, respectively. James ran 43.76, just off his personal best, and Merritt closed in 43.85. It is the first race in Olympic history where three men ran under 44 seconds.
As for Michael Johnson? He's commentating the track and field program of the Olympics for the BBC.
2013: 45.09
2014: 44.38
2015: 43.48
2016: 43.03
2012 Olympic Champion Kirani James and 2008 Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt claimed silver and bronze, respectively. James ran 43.76, just off his personal best, and Merritt closed in 43.85. It is the first race in Olympic history where three men ran under 44 seconds.
As for Michael Johnson? He's commentating the track and field program of the Olympics for the BBC.
Rowbury and Simpson Qualify for 1500m Olympic Final - Brenda Out!
By Meg Bellino
Rowbury played it safe in the first semifinal, hanging mid-pack while Laura Weightman led through 800m in 2:15. Kenyan record-holder Faith Kipyegon took over the second half of the race and Rowbury responded perfectly. Kipyegon, Ethiopia's Dawit Seyaum and Rowbury finished 1-2-3, with Rowbury running a season best 4:04.46.
Brenda Martinez did not advance out of the first section. With 300m to go, Martinez didn't have an extra gear and fell to 12th in 4:10.41.
Simpson made things interesting in the second semifinal. She took off from the gun, but slowed down as the field rolled through 800m in 2:17.
With one lap to go, world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba and 2016 World Indoor Champion Sifan Hassan raced to the front and began to drop the hammer. Great Britain's Laura Muir went with, and Simpson began losing ground. Though she was one second behind Muir, she automatically advanced by finishing fourth in 4:05.07.
Auto Qualifiers:
4:03.06 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)
4:03.62 Sifan Hassan (NED)
4:03.95 Faith Kipyegon (KEN)
4:04.16 Laura Muir (GBR)
4:04.23 Dawit Seyaum (ETH)
4:04.46 Shannon Rowbury (USA)
4:05.07 Jennifer Simpson (USA)
4:05.19 Besu Sado (ETH)
4:05.28 Laura Weightman (GBR)
4:06.41 Meraf Bahta (SWE)
Time Qualifiers:
4:05.29 Sofia Ennaoui (POL)
4:05.60 Rababe Arafi (MAR)
The women's 1500m final will take place on August 16th at 8:30 p.m. CST.
Brenda Martinez did not advance out of the first section. With 300m to go, Martinez didn't have an extra gear and fell to 12th in 4:10.41.
Simpson made things interesting in the second semifinal. She took off from the gun, but slowed down as the field rolled through 800m in 2:17.
With one lap to go, world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba and 2016 World Indoor Champion Sifan Hassan raced to the front and began to drop the hammer. Great Britain's Laura Muir went with, and Simpson began losing ground. Though she was one second behind Muir, she automatically advanced by finishing fourth in 4:05.07.
Auto Qualifiers:
4:03.06 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)
4:03.62 Sifan Hassan (NED)
4:03.95 Faith Kipyegon (KEN)
4:04.16 Laura Muir (GBR)
4:04.23 Dawit Seyaum (ETH)
4:04.46 Shannon Rowbury (USA)
4:05.07 Jennifer Simpson (USA)
4:05.19 Besu Sado (ETH)
4:05.28 Laura Weightman (GBR)
4:06.41 Meraf Bahta (SWE)
Time Qualifiers:
4:05.29 Sofia Ennaoui (POL)
4:05.60 Rababe Arafi (MAR)
The women's 1500m final will take place on August 16th at 8:30 p.m. CST.
Keturah Orji Breaks Her Own American Record in Triple Jump
By Meg Bellino
University of Georgia sophomore Keturah Orji broke her own American record in the triple jump, finishing fourth in her first Olympic appearance.
Orji's first jump in tonight's 12-woman final soared to 14.71m, 18 centimeters better than her previous record (14.52m) set at this spring's NCAA championships.
She failed to improve that mark, however, and was overtaken by Caterine Ibarguen (COL), Yulimar Rojas (VEN) and Olga Rypakova (KAZ). Remarkably, Orji's fourth-place jump was only 3 centimeters behind bronze medalist Rypakova. Orji's wind reading was +0.0, while Rypakova's was +0.3.
The women's triple jump has only been an Olympic event since 1996, while the men have been competing since 1896. No U.S. woman has ever medaled at an Olympic Games or world championships in this event.
She failed to improve that mark, however, and was overtaken by Caterine Ibarguen (COL), Yulimar Rojas (VEN) and Olga Rypakova (KAZ). Remarkably, Orji's fourth-place jump was only 3 centimeters behind bronze medalist Rypakova. Orji's wind reading was +0.0, while Rypakova's was +0.3.
The women's triple jump has only been an Olympic event since 1996, while the men have been competing since 1896. No U.S. woman has ever medaled at an Olympic Games or world championships in this event.
Allyson Felix Leads Three Americans Into 400m Final
By Meg Bellino
Phyllis Francis, Natasha Hastings and Allyson Felix will represent Team USA in the women's 400m final tomorrow night.
This is the second-consecutive 400m Olympic final that features three Americans. Sanya Richards-Ross won gold in London and DeeDee Trotter earned bronze. Francena McCorory, who is in Rio for the 4x400m relay, placed seventh.
Former Oregon Duck Francis won the first section easily in 50.31 over Jamaica's Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.69).
Hastings finished second to Jamaica's Shericka Jackson (49.83) with a season best time of 49.90, her first race under 50 seconds in 2016.
The third semifinal put Felix, in lane three, with world leader Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas on her outside in lane four. Felix caught up to Miller quickly and the two raced stride for stride until slowing down with 30m to go. Felix won with a season best time of 49.67, and Miller close behind in 49.91.
Automatic Qualifiers:
49.67 Allyson Felix (USA)
49.83 Shericka Jackson (JAM)
49.90 Natasha Hastings (USA)
49.91 Shaunae Miller (BAH)
50.31 Phyllis Francis (USA)
50.69 Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM)
Time Qualifiers:
50.60 Libania Grenot (ITA)
50.75 Olha Zemlyak (UKR)
The final of the women's 400m will take place on Monday, August 15 at 8:45PM CST.
Former Oregon Duck Francis won the first section easily in 50.31 over Jamaica's Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.69).
Hastings finished second to Jamaica's Shericka Jackson (49.83) with a season best time of 49.90, her first race under 50 seconds in 2016.
The third semifinal put Felix, in lane three, with world leader Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas on her outside in lane four. Felix caught up to Miller quickly and the two raced stride for stride until slowing down with 30m to go. Felix won with a season best time of 49.67, and Miller close behind in 49.91.
Automatic Qualifiers:
49.67 Allyson Felix (USA)
49.83 Shericka Jackson (JAM)
49.90 Natasha Hastings (USA)
49.91 Shaunae Miller (BAH)
50.31 Phyllis Francis (USA)
50.69 Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM)
Time Qualifiers:
50.60 Libania Grenot (ITA)
50.75 Olha Zemlyak (UKR)
The final of the women's 400m will take place on Monday, August 15 at 8:45PM CST.