Jamaicans Sweep Women’s 100m; Italian Sprinter Lamont Marcell Jacobs Wins Men’s 100m

Usain Bolt has retired, but the tradition of great sprinters from Jamaica lives on, at least for women. Elaine Thompson-Herah, winner of the 100 meters in Rio in 2016, successfully defended her title by winning the 100 in Tokyo, with an Olympic record time of 10.61. She beat Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the 100 meter champ in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. Fraser-Pryce won the bronze in 2016, so she’s now won gold, silver, and bronze in this event. Shericka Jackson took the bronze this time, making it a clean sweep for the Jamaican women.

Link to the Women’s 100m Final

With Bolt retired, the field was wide open on the men’s side. For the first time in Olympic history, an Italian sprinter won the 100 as Lamont Marcell Jacobs crossed the line with a personal best 9.80 seconds. U.S. runner Fred Kerley took the silver and Andre De Grasse of Canada, who won the bronze in Rio, repeated that feat.

Link to the Men’s 100m Final