Italy continues to have a stellar competitive summer, as Lamont Marcell Jacobs adds the men’s 100m to the list
It must be punishment for all those people still putting pineapple on pizza…
Whether it be sports or singing, Italy has absolutely smashed it this summer. In case you didn’t realise, not only have they won Euro 2020 and Eurovision, but they’re now adding gold medals to the trophy cabinet, as sprinter Lamont Marcell Jacobs took home the gold in the men’s 100m dash.
Their very own Matteo Berrettini even made it to the men’s singles final of Wimbledon. Mio Dio.
Eurovision being mentioned during the Olympics. A dream come true. pic.twitter.com/YMEd7M0Tmd
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) August 1, 2021
This is their fourth gold medal in Tokyo 2020, so far, having also come first place in the men’s high jump, taekwondo and women’s rowing. Marcell Jacobs, 26, caught the crowds somewhat by surprise, edging out USA’s Fred Kerley by just 0.04 seconds.
Jacobs, who is American-born himself, became the first man to win the 100m sprint other than Usain Bolt at an Olympics since 2004 – now that’s good company to keep. He finished the race in 9.80 seconds, just less than three-tenths of a second slower than Bolt’s world record (9.58).
Lamont Marcell Jacobs, your new Olympic men's 100m champion! 🇮🇹🥇https://t.co/qHK4OxWeNR #tokyo2020 #bbcolympics https://t.co/ycZIFmanA1
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 1, 2021
As for Team GB‘s Zharnel Hughes, he was unfortunately disqualified for a false start; Hughes was the first Brit to make it to a men’s 100m final in 21 years. Gutting stuff.
Jacobs’ 100m gold was not only a first for the country but their first medal in the event full stop. Rome wasn’t built in a day but they probably got a fair bit done if they ever had a summer as prolific as this.
Lamont Marcell Jacobs might have been born in Texas but no one can deny the Italianess he inherited from his mother’s side pic.twitter.com/bT8Y73QYwC
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) August 1, 2021
