Athletics 2020 Tokyo Olympics Review
Sep 13, 2022
28 min read
Updated: Aug 25
Men’s 100m
Andre de Grasse (Canada) was the fastest in the heats with a 9.91, ahead of Marcell Jacobs (Italy). The big surprise was Trayvon Brommel (United States) failing to finish top three in his heat, instead relying on being a fastest loser. Fred Kerley (United States) took the victory in the first semi with a 9.96, ahead of De Grasse. Zharnel Hughes (Great Britain) took the win in semi-two despite a poor start ahead of Enoch Adegoke (Nigeria). Su Bingtian (China) set an Asian record, winning the semi in 9.83, with Ronnie Baker (United States) running the same time. Jacobs set a European record as a fastest loser, while Akani Simbine (South Africa) also progressed. Hughes was disqualified with a massive false start in the final. Jacobs set a European record with a 9.80, with Kerley in second and De Grasse winning bronze. All three run personal best times. Baker tightened over the last 30m to only finish fifth behind Simbine.
🥇Marcell Jacobs 🇮🇹
🥈Fred Kerley 🇺🇸
🥉Andre De Grasse 🇨🇦
Men’s 200m
Kenneth Bednarek (United States) went fastest in the heats with a 20.01. There were some surprises as Kyle Greaux (Trinidad and Tobago), Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Great Britain) and Julian Forte (Jamaica) all went out. There was also disappointment for Britain as Adam Gemili (Great Britain) pulled up with a hamstring injury. Erriyon Knighton (United States) won the first semi, looking ridiculously chilled to run 20.02 ahead of Rasheed Dwyer (Jamaica). Aaron Brown (Canada) won the second semi-final in 19.98 ahead of Joseph Fahnbulleh (Liberia), with Noah Lyles (United States) third after a dramatic slow down before the line. Andre De Grasse (Canada) was the fastest winning semi-final three, ahead of Kenneth Bednarek (United States). At halfway in the final, Bednarek looked to have the advantage over Brown. Lyles came through but suffered over the final 20m and it was De Grasse who came through to take the victory.
🥇Andre De Grasse 🇨🇦
🥈Kenneth Bednarek 🇺🇸
🥉Noah Lyles 🇺🇸
Men’s 400m
In the heats, five men went under 45 seconds, led by Michael Cherry (United States). The story came as Randolph Ross (United States), fastest in the world, eased up over the final few metres of his heat, only to be passed and not finish in one of the fastest time spots. Kirani James (Grenada) led the first semi-final with a 43.88 ahead of Anthony Zambrano (Colombia), who started slow but also went under 44 seconds to set an area record. In the second semi, it was Cherry who entered the home straight with a big advantage and took victory ahead of Christopher Taylor (Jamaica). The third semi was the toughest of the four, but Steven Gardiner (Bahamas) cruised home to victory ahead of Michael Norman (United States). Machel Cedenio (Trinidad and Tobago) and Wayde Van Niekerk (South Africa) both missed out on the final. In the final, Norman took the start out fast, but by the 300m mark it was Gardiner and James. Gardiner came through, with his languid running style as the other two started to slow. James hung on to bronze whilst Norman was run out of the medals.
🥇Steven Gardiner 🇧🇸
🥈Anthony Zambrano 🇨🇴
🥉Kirani James 🇬🇩
Men’s 800m
Ferguson Rotich (Kenya) run the fastest 800m Olympic time outside a final in the opening round, with a 1.43.75, dragging Peter Bol (Australia) and Elliot Giles (Great Britain) to good times. In the first semi-final, Bryce Hoppel (United States) led them out. Patryk Dobek (Poland) took victory with a fast final 100m ahead of Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir (Kenya). Marco Arop (Canada) led the second semi in a quicker first 400m but only went backwards, with Bol taking the win ahead of Clayton Murphy (United States). Giles took the third semi out in a fast split. Rotich took the win in the semi running 1.44.04, ahead of Amel Tuka (Bosnia). Isaiah Jewett (United States) and Nijel Amos (Botswana) tangled legs with 150m to go, taking both of them out but Amos was brought back into the final. At halfway it was a slow pace led out by Bol. Rotich never looked to have the pace with 250m to go and went backwards in the field, being shuffled back into sixth with 150m remaining. As others faded, he began to work his way through the field but Korir had too much of a gap for him to catch up.
🥇Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir 🇰🇪
🥈Ferguson Rotich 🇰🇪
🥉Patryk Dobek 🇵🇱
Men’s 1500m
The first heat was won by Ismael Debjani (Belgium) ahead of Timothy Cheruiyot (Kenya). The second heat was won by Abel Kipsang (Poland), but the most notable story was Marcin Lewandowski (Poland) missing out following a trip, but was reinstated following an appeal. The third heat was led out by Stewart McSweyn (Australia) with a fast early pace, but it was Jake Heyward (Great Britain) who came through to win. Jake Wightman (Great Britain) took the first semi-final over Cheruiyot. Lewandowski and Ayanleh Soulemani (Djibouti) would pull up on the final lap with injuries. In the second semi-final, McSweyn went out hard and held hold onto fifth, with Abel Kipsang (Kenya) winning the semi in an Olympic record. In the final, Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) took the race out, which drew Cheruiyot to the front and into the lead at 400m. McSweyn was hanging onto the front two with a lap remaining, ahead of Kipsang and Josh Kerr (Great Britain). McSweyn struggled down the back straight, only going backwards. At the 1300m mark, it was Cheruiyot who began to go backwards, Ingebrigtsen pouncing into the lead, setting an Olympic record. Kerr came through and almost caught the Kenyan but took bronze.
🥇Jakob Ingebrigtsen 🇳🇴
🥈Timothy Cheruiyot 🇰🇪
🥉Josh Kerr 🇬🇧
Men’s 5000m
With a lap to go in the opening heat, there was a big group of 13. The opening heat was won by Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli (Kenya), ahead of Mohammed Ahmed (Canada) with Mohamed Katir (Spain) taking the second. In the final, Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) set off at a fast pace, looking to run the kick out of some of the opponents. The pace began to slow in the third kilometre. With three laps to go, it was a group of ten bunched together with Kimeli setting the pace. Milkesa Mengesha (Ethiopia) was next to make a move, but at 400m it was Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) who led, with Katir losing touch. Kimeli was on the shoulder of Cheptegei down the back straight, but was unable to get past. Ahmed was the fastest finisher, but was unable to catch up to Cheptegei.
🥇Joshua Cheptegei 🇺🇬
🥈Mohammed Ahmed 🇨🇦
🥉Paul Chelimo 🇺🇸
Men’s 10000m
Stephen Kissa (Uganda) took a big early lead, but in the overwhelming heat in Tokyo, was soon reeled in by Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) and Rhonex Kipruto (Kenya), bringing the pack back together. It was an even pace but Kissa soon dropped out. With two laps to go, it was a large pack of ten, led by Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda). It was Barega who put in the first serious attack with 400m to go, reducing to a pack of eight. Cheptegei struggled with the initial burst, as the race was not run to suit. Instead, it was Barega leading Berihu Aregawi (Ethiopia) and Mohammed Ahmed (Canada), with the two Ugandans left in the race behind them. It was Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) who started to pass the others but Barega had gone. Cheptegei slowly wore down his teammate to take silver.
🥇Selemon Barega 🇪🇹
🥈Joshua Cheptegei 🇺🇬
🥉Jacob Kiplimo 🇺🇬
Men’s 110m Hurdles
Grant Holloway (United States) ran the fastest heat with a 13.02, proving himself to be the clear number one. Orlando Ortega (Spain) and Sergey Shubenkov (Russia) both failed to start their heats. In the opening semi-final, Ronald Levy (Jamaica) finished first, ahead of Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (France). Daniel Roberts (United States) was fifth in the heat meaning he missed out on the final. Devon Allen (United States) impressed in the second semi ahead of Aurel Manga (France), whilst Holloway took the final semi ahead of Hansle Parchment (Jamaica). In the final, Holloway got away fastest but around the sixth hurdle began to fade and Parchment came through to take gold. If the race had gone on another 10m, he may have missed a medal completely.
🥇Hansle Parchment 🇯🇲
🥈Grant Holloway 🇺🇸
🥉Ronald Levy 🇯🇲
Men’s 400m Hurdles
In the heats, Abderrahman Samba (Qatar) qualified fastest ahead of Alison dos Santos (Brazil) and Jaheel Hyde (Jamaica). In the first semi-final, Karsten Warholm (Norway) was behind Rai Benjamin (United States) around the bend, but Warholm came home to win. In the second semi, Samba led but hit the last two barriers hard and Dos Santos got the win ahead of Samba. With Hyde leading the final semi-final, he smashed into a hurdle and found himself on the floor allowing Kyron McMaster (British Virgin Islands) to come through and win. In the final, Warholm attacked from the off leading Benjamin with 100m to go. Benjamin put the pressure on with two hurdles to go and Warholm added an extra step, allowing him to push off and run away from Benjamin. It was a ridiculous world record, setting a time of 45.94. He was followed by Benjamin who would have also smashed the world record.
🥇Karsten Warholm 🇳🇴
🥈Rai Benjamin 🇺🇸
🥉Alison dos Santos 🇧🇷
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase
Lamecha Girma (Ethiopia) qualified for the final with the fastest time, winning the first heat ahead of Ryuji Miura (Japan). Abraham Kibiwot (Kenya) won the second heat, whilst Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco) took the third. The slow pace saw Leonard Bett (Kenya) miss out on qualifying for the final. At 2000m of the final, it was Girma ahead of Getnet Wale (Ethiopia), Kibiwot, Benjamin Kigen (Kenya) and El Bakkali. El Bakkali passed the two Kenyans by the bell, but Girma had stolen a bit of a march. It was the jumping of the Moroccan which gave him a great edge and he broke the historic Kenyan dominance. In third Kigen, managed to pass Wale after the Ethiopian tripped with 200m to go.
🥇Soufiane El Bakkali 🇲🇦
🥈Lamecha Girma 🇪🇹
🥉Benjamin Kigen 🇰🇪
Men’s 4x100m Relay
Jamaica won the opening heat ahead of Great Britain. The second heat was won by China, with the United States finishing sixth and failing to make the final. In the final, a great start from Great Britain had them in the lead and at halfway it looked like Italy, Britain, China and Canada. When they started the final straight Britain led Italy, with China and Jamaica slightly ahead of Canada. Filippo Tortu slowly reeled in Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and took the gold, with a dip on the line, edging him by 0.01 second. Andre De Grasse overcome both Jamaica and China to claim bronze.
🥇Italy 🇮🇹
🥈Great Britain 🇬🇧
🥉Canada 🇨🇦
Men’s 4x400m Relay
In the opening heat, it was Trinidad and Tobago leading Botswana and the United States at the end of the first lap. At the halfway stage, the United States handed over first ahead of Botswana and Italy. The United States came home first with Botswana behind them and Trinidad and Tobago pinching third. In the second semi, Poland beat Jamaica home ahead of Belgium. In the final, Botswana led at the changeover ahead of the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. The United States took over the lead in the second leg but six teams were within a second. The Netherlands went into third on that leg, whilst Trinidad and Tobago headed backwards as the runner was injured. The United States went clear to take gold and Netherlands took silver ahead of Botswana.
🥇United States 🇺🇸
🥈Netherlands 🇳🇱
🥉Botswana 🇧🇼
Men’s Marathon
It was a competitive start, with 50 men still within ten seconds of the lead after 10km. Shura Kitata (Ethiopia) was the first big name to depart the race, pulling up injured just before that mark. It was still a group of over 30 at the half marathon mark. By the 30km mark, the field began to look more elite as eleven men remained within the five-second mark. It was in the next 5km where Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) came to the fore. By the 35km stage, he had opened up a gap of 27 seconds over a group that included compatriot Lawrence Cherono (Kenya), Ayad Lamdassem (Spain) and Bashir Abdi (Belgium), with Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands) a further three seconds back. Kipchoge only extended the gap heading to the finish line, whilst second and fourth were separated by four seconds.
🥇Eliud Kipchoge 🇰🇪
🥈Abdi Nageeye 🇳🇱
🥉Bashir Abdi 🇧🇪
Men’s 20km Walk
The first 2km saw most racers start at the same pace. By 4km, Wang Kaihua (China) and Sandeep Kumar (India) had opened a slight advantage on the pack. By the 6km mark, they had a 16-second advantage over Francesco Fortunato (Italy). At halfway, Kaihua was on his own, with Kumar back in twelfth. Behind him by ten seconds were Toshikazu Yamanishi (Japan), Massimo Stano (Italy) and Koki Ikeda (Japan). Heading into the 12km mark, the gaps had closed. By the 14km, it was a group of eight, which was down to four at 16km. Stano, Ikeda, and Yamanishi were still there, with Alvaro Martin (Spain) joining them. The original trio had moved away at 18km and they would be the medalists, with Stano taking the win by nine seconds.
🥇Massimo Stano 🇮🇹
🥈Koki Ikeda 🇯🇵
🥉Toshikazu Yamanishi 🇯🇵
Men’s 50km Walk
Yohann Diniz (France) and Luo Yadong (China) opened up a 30-second advantage after 5km. By 15km, Yadong was still out in front, but Diniz had visited the toilet and dropped back in the field. By 20km, Yadong was also back in the main field. At 30km, David Towala (Poland) had opened up a small gap from the main field. By 35km, the gap has opened up to more than 90 seconds over the closest chasing group and by 40km it was almost three minutes ahead of a group of eight. The gap was maintained ahead of the 45km mark with five others, seemingly battling for the medal positions. It came down to Jonathan Hilbert (Germany), Marc Tur (Spain), Joao Vieria (Portugal), Masatora Kawano (Japan) and Evan Dunfee (Canada). Towala slowed over the final five kilometres, his gap only being 36 seconds at the finish line. That came over Hilbert, with Dunfee a further fifteen seconds back.
🥇David Towala 🇵🇱
🥈Jonathan Hilbert 🇩🇪
🥉Evan Dunfee 🇨🇦
Men’s High Jump
Thirteen men qualified for the final by clearing 2.28m. Perhaps the most notable names to miss out were Andriy Protsenko (Ukraine) and Mateusz Przybylko (Germany). Eight men cleared 2.27m in the final, with a perfect card. Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) was first to clear 2.30, followed by Maksim Nedasekau (Belarus), but he did have an earlier fault. Brandon Starc (Australia), Woo Sang-hyeok (South Korea), Django Lovett (Canada) and Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy) all also cleared 2.30 to continue with their perfect cards. With the bar at 2.33, Barshim sailed over. Nedasekau followed him, although his earlier fault left him behind and Tamberi also cleared comfortably. Sang-hyeok went over on his second attempt along with Mikhail Akimenko (Russia) and Juvaughn Harrison (United States). Starc made it seven by joining them on his third attempt. Barshim went over 2.35 at his first attempt followed by Tamberi. Starc and Sanghyeok also went over on their first attempt, but were behind given past mistakes. Barshim continued his flawless round with a 2.37 leap. Nedasekau was one of the men who passed after a fail on 2.35 but went over 2.37. Just like Barshim, Tamberi cleared the first time. Neither man could clear 2.39 and they agreed to share the gold before sharing a passionate embrace.
🥇Mutaz Essa Barshim 🇶🇦
🥇Gianmarco Tamberi 🇮🇹
🥉Maksim Nedasekau 🇧🇾
Men’s Pole Vault
Only two men qualified with perfectly clean scorecards; Bo Kanda Lita Baehre (Germany) and Christopher Nilsen (United States). Sam Kendricks (United States) was ruled out of the final due to Covid regulations. Seven men vaulted 5.80m in the final. Nilsen and Thiago Braz (Brazil) were first to go over 5.87m. Armand Duplantis (Sweden) skipped it and vaulted 5.92m on his opening attempt. Nilsen follow over on his second attempt. He went over 5.97m on his first attempt, but would be followed by Duplantis. Duplantis went over 6.02m very comfortably again. A world record attempt was up next and he almost went over 6.19m on the first leap, looking like he could do it comfortably. His next two leaps would not get him to that height again.
🥇Armand Duplantis 🇸🇪
🥈Christopher Nilsen 🇺🇸
🥉Thiago Braz 🇧🇷
Men’s Long Jump
Three men hit the qualifying standard, led by a massive 8.50 from Juan Miguel Echevarria (Cuba). Miltiadis Tentoglu (Greece) and Yuki Hashioka (Japan) also met the automatic qualification standard. Tajay Gayle (Jamaica) jumped 8.14 but limped out of the long jump pit. Echevarria landed an 8.09 in round one to lay down a marker. His lead did not hold the first round as Tentoglu went to 8.11m. To end the first round was Maykel Masso (Cuba), who took the lead with 8.21. That would remain until the third round, when Echevarria went out to 8.41. Gayle had fouled his first two attempts and an extra cautious approach to the takeoff saw him miss out on being in the first eight at halfway. Juvaughn Harrison (United States) saw his fifth jump to reach 8.15m, only for Tentoglu to match that, going ahead on count back. Masso passed on his third, fourth, fifth and sixth jumps. In the final round, Eusebio Caceres (Spain) went out to 8.18m. Tentoglu jumped out to 8.41, allowing him to take the lead on count back. Echevarria was unable to make a sixth jump, having skipped the fifth as well due to injury.
🥇Miltiadis Tentoglu 🇬🇷
🥈Juan Miguel Echevarria 🇨🇺
🥉Maykel Masso 🇨🇺
Men’s Triple Jump
Five men hit the qualification standard, but it was Pedro Pichardo (Portugal) who most impressed with a 17.71m. The other automatic qualifiers were Necati Er (Turkey), Zhu Yaming (China), Cristian Napoles (Cuba) and Yasser Mohamed Triki (Algeria). Pichardo set the bar in the opening round at 17.61m. Triki followed with a 17.30m, but Yaming went into second with a 17.41m. In the second round, Triki went into silver medal position with a national record of 17.42m. In the third round, Pichardo extended his lead to a national record of 17.98m. Will Claye (United States) moved into second with a 17.44m, only for Hugues Fabrice Zango (Burkina Faso) to jump out to 17.47m meaning second and fifth were separated by only 6 centimetres. Yaming was next to improve, jumping 17.57m in the fifth round.
🥇Pedro Pichardo 🇵🇹
🥈Zhu Yaming 🇨🇳
🥉Hugues Fabrice Zango 🇧🇫
Men’s Shot Put
Ryan Crouser (United States) was one of six automatically qualifiers, although he was the only one to go over 22 metres. Behind him, other qualifiers were Tomas Walsh (New Zealand), Mesud Pezer (Bosnia), Darlan Romani (Brazil), Zane Weir (Italy) and Mostafa Amir Hassan (Egypt). In the final, Ryan Crouser went straight into a big lead with an effort of 22.83m. Joe Kovacs (United States) went next best, with a 22.19m. In the second round, Walsh threw 22.17m, whilst Crouser would show his dominance with an effort of 22.93m. Kovacs had improved to 22.65m in round four to consolidate his silver but had no answers for Crouser. Crouser finished with his best throw yet, an Olympic record of 23.30m. His worst throw of the day was 22.54m.
🥇Ryan Crouser 🇺🇸
🥈Joe Kovacs 🇺🇸
🥉Tomas Walsh 🇳🇿
Men’s Discus Throw
Only one man hit the automatic qualification distance in Daniel Stahl (Sweden). Behind him was Andrius Gudzius (Lithuania), with Piotr Malachowski (Poland) and Lawrence Okoye (Great Britain) likely disappointed to not make it. Matthew Denny (Australia) led the opening round with a 65.76m. Lukas Weisshaidinger (Austria) snatched the lead at the start of round two with 66.65m. Stahl finally came to the party, throwing 68.90m. Weisshaidinger extended to 67.07, but no one else improved in round three. Round four saw Kristjan Ceh (Slovenia) move into fourth with a 66.05. In round five, he improved to 66.62 to put himself in bronze medal position, only for Simon Pettersson (Sweden) to throw 67.39 and go into silver medal position. No one improved in the final round.
🥇Daniel Stahl 🇸🇪
🥈Simon Pettersson 🇸🇪
🥉Lukas Weisshaidinger 🇦🇹
Men’s Hammer Throw
Wojciech Nowicki (Poland) topped qualification with a 79.78m. Also qualifying automatically were Quentin Bigot (France), Mykhaylo Kokhan (Ukraine), Rudy Winkler (United States) and Eivind Henriksen (Norway). The story of qualification was Pawel Fajdek (Poland). His first two throws left him in a precarious position for qualification, but a third throw of 76.46m was just about enough to qualify. In the opening round, it was Nowicki, with a massive personal best of 81.18m to put the pressure on the rest of the field. Henriksen went into second with a 79.18m, only for Kokhan to throw 80.79m. Wojcicki improved to 81.72m. Again Nowicki improved, with an 82.52m throw. Henriksen went out to 80.31m, setting a Norwegian National record and moving into third. Fajdek turned up in the fifth round with a throw of 81.53m, only for Henriksen to go out to 81.58m.
🥇Wojciech Nowicki 🇵🇱
🥈Eivind Henriksen 🇳🇴
🥉Pawel Fajdek 🇵🇱
Men’s Javelin Throw
Neeraj Chopra (India) threw furthest in qualifying, 86.65m, but was joined automatically by six other men. Johannes Vetter (Germany), Lassi Etelatalo (Finland), Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan), Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic) and Julian Weber (Germany) also went over 83.50m. In the final, Chopra went straight into the lead with a massive 87.03m in the opening round and improved to 87.58m in the second. Weber followed in second with an 85.30m. In the third round, facing elimination, Vitezslaw Vesely (Czech Republic) threw 85.45m. Heavy favourite Vetter did not even make the final eight throwers. Vadlejch was next over 85m, going second with 86.67m.
🥇Neeraj Chopra 🇮🇳
🥈Jakub Vadlejch 🇨🇿
🥉Vitezslaw Vesely 🇨🇿
Men’s Decathlon
Damian Warner (Canada) set a decathlon best of 10.12 in the 100m, with Ashley Maloney (Australia) also clearing 1000 points. It was an Olympic decathlon best of 8.24m in the long jump for Warner, leaving him on 2189, 206 ahead of Maloney. Vitaly Shuk (Belarus) went furthest in the shot put. Niklas Kaul (Germany) went over 2.11m in the high jump, a massive jump matched by Maloney with Kevin Mayer (France) back on 2.08m. In the 400m, Maloney was comfortably fastest with a 46.29 ahead of Pierce Lapage (Canada). That meant Warner led overnight by 81 points of Maloney, with Lapage a further 112 back. Mayer lay in fifth, 382 points down. Warner won the 110n hurdles ahead of Mayer. Jiri Sykora (Canada) won the discus, but Warner once again beat Mayer. With three events to go, he led Mayer by 453 points, his closest contender was Maloney, only 251 back. Maicel Uibo (Germany) led the pole vault phase with 5.30m, 20cm more than any other competitors. The gaps of Warner slightly eroded, as he led Maloney by 221 and Mayer by 315. Mayer threw a personal best of 73.09m in the javelin, to give himself a chance in the 1500m, having closed the point gap to 214. Mayer was nowhere near his best in the 1500m though and it left it clear for Warner to take victory with an Olympic record 9018.
🥇Damian Warner 🇨🇦
🥈Kevin Mayer 🇫🇷
🥉Ashley Moloney 🇦🇺
Women’s 100m
There were some incredibly fast times in the heats. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (Ivory Coast) set an African record of 10.78. Elaine Thompson (Jamaica) cruised to 10.82, whilst three national records were set. Tori Daniels (United States) edged out Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain) and Murielle Ahoure (Ivory Coast) in the strongest heat. The complexion of the semis changed as Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) was disqualified following a positive test for HGH. In the first semi, Asher-Smith got a brilliant start but ended up being run out into third. Thompson again made it look easy with a 10.76. Ta Lou took the second semi with a time of 10.79, ahead of Shericka Jackson (Jamaica). Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) cruised through in the fastest time in the semis, ahead of Mujinga Kambundji (Switzerland). Asher-Smith missed out on the final and confirmed she would withdraw from the 200m with a hamstring tear. In the final, Fraser-Pryce had an edge early on but Thompson came past her, flying to a 10.61, the second fastest of all time and Olympic record despite celebrating before the finish line. Jackson came through well after a poor start to take bronze to win a 1-2-3.
🥇Elaine Thompson 🇯🇲
🥈Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 🇯🇲
🥉Shericka Jackson 🇯🇲
Women’s 200m
It was all very relaxed in the heats, with Christine Mboma (Namibia) beating Gabby Thomas (United States) as the American eased down over the last 100m. Winding down way too much was Shericka Jackson (Jamaica). Running with a languid style, hardly pumping her arms, she pulled up at the finish line and missed out on third place by hundredths of a second. In semi-one, Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) strode clear ahead of Beatrice Masilingi (Namibia). Thompson looked even better in the second semi with a 21.66, despite slowing down before the line. Mboma once again beat Thomas. In the third semi, Jose Marie Ta Lou (Ivory Coast) went out incredibly hard and tightened up, but Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas) could not do enough to pass. At 100m, it was Fraser-Pryce and Thompson who had moved clear of the field. Thompson only pulled away over that last 100m, whilst Fraser-Pryce went backwards eventually finishing out of the medals. Miller-Uibo never got into the race and finished eighth.
🥇Elaine Thompson 🇯🇲
🥈Christine Mboma 🇳🇦
🥉Gabby Thomas 🇺🇸
Women’s 400m
The 400m heats were very pedestrian, as all of the major players came through comfortably. Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic) set a national record in the first semi-final, ahead of Candice McLeod (Jamaica). Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas) effortlessly cruised to the second semi-final, ahead of Jodie Williams (Great Britain). Allyson Felix (United States) qualified but only finished second to Stephanie Ann McPherson (Jamaica). Wadeline Jonathas (United States) was run out of qualification. McPherson perhaps went off hardest around the first bend. Miller-Uibo would accelerate around the second bend into the home straight and pulled away with a fantastic 48.37. Paulino came through, whilst Allyson Felix was able to hold onto the bronze ahead of McPherson.
🥇Shaunae Miller-Uibo 🇧🇸
🥈Marileidy Paulino 🇩🇴
🥉Allyson Felix 🇺🇸
Women’s 800m
Two athletes cleared two minutes in the heats, with Natoya Goule (Jamaica) quickest ahead of Jemma Reekie (Great Britain). Other heat winners were Rose Mary Almanza (Cuba), Athing Mu (United States), Raevyn Rogers (United States) and Renelle Lamote (France). Eunice Sun (Kenya) was eliminated in the heats. In the first semi, it was a slow first lap led by Goule. She begin to pull away at 600m, with Reekie and Ajee Wilson (United States) tracking. Goule held onto Reekie with Mary Moraa (Kenya) in third. In heat two Mu, the nineteen-year-old prodigy led at halfway and looked strong with a 1.58.07 ahead of Habitam Alemu (Ethiopia). The third semi was probably the strongest and the final 100m saw six enter with a chance, but it was Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain) who won the semi ahead of Wang Chunyu (China) and Rogers who was a fastest loser. Mu led the final at 400m and started to pull away at the 500m mark. Hodgkinson and Reekie crept up the inside with 200m to go, passing Goule and Alemu. Hodgkinson chased home Mu, as the first five set personal bests. Reekie could not hold on to the medal position as Rogers went past.
🥇Athing Mu 🇺🇸
🥈Keely Hodgkinson 🇬🇧
🥉Raevyn Rogers 🇺🇸
Women’s 1500m
The first heat was won by Gabriela Debues-Stafford (Canada). The second heat was marred by a trip to Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) which left her metres adrift of the field. The Dutch woman was able to come back, with an incredible turn of pace as she came through to win the heat. Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) looked superb when winning in the third heat. Winny Chebet (Kenya) went down on the third lap of the first semi-final. Instead, it was Kipyegon who took the semi in a fast 3.56.80. In the second semi, it was Hassan who sprinted to victory. In the final Hassan moved to the front after 200m, followed by Kipyegon and Laura Muir (Great Britain). Soon those three had established a gap with Debues-Stafford hanging on. Down the back straight on the final lap Kipyegon injected her pace and went past Hassan. Muir would also pass Hassan on the 200m bend. Kipyegon was not for catching and would set an Olympic record of 3.53.11, whilst Muir finished second beating the old Olympic record.
🥇Faith Kipyegon 🇰🇪
🥈Laura Muir 🇬🇧
🥉Sifan Hassan 🇳🇱
Women’s 5000m
Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) set the fastest time, winning the quicker of the semi-finals ahead of Agnes Tirop (Kenya). The second heat winner was Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia) ahead of Hellen Obiri (Kenya). The final started at a slow pace, but soon Ririka Hironaka (Japan) increased it and opened a small gap. Soon, Hironaka was dropping back through the pack and Obiri was looking to inject some pace, before it slowed down again. With 1000m to go it was still a substantial group of 11, although four were hanging on by their nails. By 800m, it was down to seven, with Hassan patiently stalking at the back. At the bell, it was down to five. Obiri put in a small burst, but Hassan went past with 250m to go. No one could live with the injection of pace she put in.
🥇Sifan Hassan 🇳🇱
🥈Hellen Obiri 🇰🇪
🥉Gudaf Tsegay 🇪🇹
Women’s 10000m
Heading towards halfway, Letesenbet Gidey (Ethiopia) had taken over and was putting a serious pace into the field. At the halfway mark it was down to six athletes, with five keeping real touch with Gidey; Sifan Hassan (Netherlands), Kalkidan Gezahegne (Bahrain), Hellen Obiri (Kenya) and Irene Cheptai (Kenya). Cheptai was next to struggle and lost contact at the 6000m mark. Obiri begun to struggle at 7200m. The remaining trio would stick together in that order with one lap remaining. Hassan kept the pressure on down the back straight and as Gidey began to struggle, Hassan attacked with 150m remaining. Gezahegne followed her but was not able to quite pass and Hassan took the victory in under 30 minutes.
🥇Sifan Hassan 🇳🇱
🥈Kalkidan Gezahegne 🇧🇭
🥉Letesenbet Gidey 🇪🇹
Women’s 100m Hurdles
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Puerto Rico) set the fastest qualification time ahead of Megan Tapper (Jamaica) and Britany Anderson (Jamaica). A great start from Christina Clemons (United States) was not enough for her to qualify, as Tobi Amusan (Nigeria) took the victory ahead of Devynne Charlton (Bahamas). Anderson took the second semi in 12.40 ahead of Kendra Harrison (United States). Even faster was Camacho-Quinn at 12.26, setting an Olympic record. Behind her were Tapper, Nadine Visser (Netherlands) and Gabriele Cunningham (United States). Camacho-Quinn and Harrison took the early lead. Heading into the ninth hurdle, she had to chop and slow down to make the hurdle after knocking eight. She managed her feet effectively and cruised into the gold medal win, winning Puerto Rico’s second gold medal. Tapper beat Amusan into the bronze medal position.
🥇Jasmine Camacho-Quinn 🇵🇷
🥈Kendra Harrison 🇺🇸
🥉Megan Tapper 🇯🇲
Women’s 400m Hurdles
Dalilah Muhammad (United States) was the fastest qualifier, while Viktoria Tkachuk (Ukraine), Femke Bol (Netherlands), Anna Ryzhykova (Kazakhstan) and Sydney McLaughlin (United States) winning the other heats. Muhammad was comfortable in the first semi despite the pouring rain, ahead of Janieve Russell (Jamaica). McLaughlin set up the dream final, finishing ahead of Gianna Woodruff (Panama). The rain was harder in the third semi but Bol came clear ahead of Anna Cockrell (United States). Muhammad led the field out incredibly fast. She led at the turn of the home straight and if anything began to pull out more of a lead. McLaughlin started to closer her down following the last hurdle and passed her with 10m to go. Both run incredibly fast, with McLaughlin setting a world record, 0.12 seconds ahead of Muhammad, who would have also destroyed the old record. Bol took third in a European record.
🥇Sydney McLaughlin 🇺🇸
🥈Dalilah Muhammad 🇺🇸
🥉Femke Bol 🇳🇱
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase
The first heat was won in a quick time by Winfred Mutile Yavi (Bahrain), with Emma Coburn (United States) cruising in third. The second was won by Courtney Frerichs (United States), while Hyvin Kiyeng (Kenya) won the third. It was a slow early pace in the final, but Frerichs started to extend them with four laps remaining. The following lap, she opened a gap up with Peruth Chemutai (Uganda) trying to hold on to her coattails. Even that would extend and with a lap to go the gap was almost a second, with Kiyeng quite a way back. Chemutai caught Frerichs with 300m to go, the American struggling. Chemutai came home in a good time of 9.01.45 to take gold.
🥇Peruth Chemutai 🇺🇬
🥈Courtney Frerichs 🇺🇸
🥉Hyvin Kiyeng 🇰🇪
Women’s 4x100m Relay
Great Britain were the fastest qualifiers, winning their heat ahead of the United States and Jamaica. Germany won the other heat. It was a fast start from the three principles in the final, but the handover from the United States and, to an even greater degree, Great Britain slowed both of the teams down. The United States were behind Jamaica at the second changeover but Dina Asher-Smith had to dramatically slow down and could only get Britain into fifth when handing it over to Daryll Neita who finished fast to get a bronze. Jamaica never looked back from the advantage they developed early and set a national record.
🥇Jamaica 🇯🇲
🥈United States 🇺🇸
🥉Great Britain 🇬🇧
Women’s 4x400m Relay
In the opening heat, Poland led at halfway ahead of France and Germany. Poland took the victory, impressively ahead of Cuba and Germany. In the second semi, the United States led Jamaica, ahead of Canada and Great Britain. The United States took the win ahead of Jamaica, with Britain finishing third. At the first change over it was the United States leading, ahead of Poland and Jamaica. It
remained the same at the second changeover with Canada and Britain beginning to challenge for the medal places. Canada overtook Jamaica on that leg. The United States won with clear daylight. Poland came home in second and Jamaica had re-overtaken Canada to get bronze.
🥇United States 🇺🇸
🥈Poland 🇵🇱
🥉Jamaica 🇯🇲
Women’s Marathon
In the punishing Tokyo heat, it was a large group that bunched together without any attacks over the first 10km. It remained that way at 20km, but by halfway it had become a group of 12. They went through halfway in 1.15.14, suggesting most of these runners could go quicker. By 30km it was down to nine. At 35km, the group was only five with Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) joined by Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya), Molly Seidel (United States), Eunice Chumba (Bahrain) and Lonah Selpeter (Israel). The two Kenyans soon had the advantage, with Seidel trying to keep in touch. She could not and over the final kilometres, Jepchirchir pulled away from the favourite Kosgei.
🥇Peres Jepchirchir 🇰🇪
🥈Brigid Kosgei 🇰🇪
🥉Molly Seidel 🇺🇸
Women’s 20km Walk
They remained tightly packed through the early stages with no one looking to make a move. At 8km, there were still 25 walkers within 10 seconds of the lead. At the halfway point it was 18 within 10 seconds. Only two had been dropped a further 2km later. At 14km, it was twelve separated by just three seconds. It was finally down to six at 16km with Antonella Palmisano (Italy), Yang Jiayu (China), Erica Sena (Brazil), Sandra Arenas (Colombia) and Liu Zhong (China) separated. By the next checkpoint, Jiayu had cracked and Palmisano had opened a gap up ahead of Arenas. Over that final 2km, Sena also went backwards, and Palmisano took victory by 25 seconds.
🥇Antonella Palmisano 🇮🇹
🥈Sandra Arenas 🇨🇴
🥉Liu Zhong 🇨🇳
Women’s High Jump
14 high jumpers jumped the 1.95m qualification. The only two with a perfect clear round were Nicola McDermott (Australia) and Marija Vukovic (Montenegro). In the final, nine women cleared the 1.96m barrier but Mariya Lasitskene (Russia) only managed on her third attempt. McDermott went over the first time at 1.98m. Iryna Herashchenko (Ukraine) edged over on her second attempt, followed by Lasitskene before Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) made it four. With only three medals spread between four, it was onto 2.00. McDermott went clear on her first attempt, before Mahuchikh and Lasitskene got over on their second attempts. As the bar progressed onto 2.02, it was the turn of Lasitskene to go over the first time, but McDermott achieved a personal best by following on her second attempt. Lasitskene was the only one who could carry on, achieving a world lead with 2.04m.
🥇Mariya Lasitskene 🇷🇺
🥈Nicola McDermott 🇦🇺
🥉Yaroslava Mahuchikh 🇺🇦
Women’s Pole Vault
With the qualification taking place in the rain-threatened session, the automatic qualification of 4.70m became an unnecessarily high standard as 15 qualified by achieving 4.55m. Sandi Morris (United States) was the story though, the American unhappy with the rain and looking to be struggling with an injury. Only five athletes went clear on the first height of 4.50m at their first attempt in the final. It was Holly Bradshaw (Great Britain), Maryna Kylypko (Ukraine), Wilma Murto (Finland), Anzhelika Sidorova (Russia) and Tina Sutej (Slovenia). Katie Nagoette (Russia) and Katerina Stefanidi (Greece), two of the early favourites, both took two fails at 4.50m. Sidorova was the only vaulter to go over 4.70m on her first attempt. Bradshaw and Nagoette followed after one fail, with Stefanidi getting it after two failures. Sidorova went clear at 4.80 and 4.85. Bradshaw went clear at 4.85, followed by Nagoette. Stefanidi would fail, leaving the three to battle out for the medals. Nagoette was the first to clear, on her second vault. With her final attempt, Sidorova movec up to 4.95 but was not able to complete the vault, meaning Nagoette took the gold.
🥇Katie Nagoette 🇺🇸
🥈Anzhelika Sidorova 🇷🇺
🥉Holly Bradshaw 🇬🇧
Women’s Long Jump
Eight jumpers qualified automatically. Ivana Spanovic (Serbia) led with a 7.00m, ahead of Malaika Mihambo (Germany), Brittney Reese (United States), and Tara Davis (United States). Essa Brume (Nigeria) led the jumpers, after the first round with a 6.97m ahead of Mihambo on 6.83m. Reese went into third with a 6.81 in round two. Spanovic leapt out to 6.91m, to jump ahead of Reese into second only for Mihambo to jump out to 6.95m. In round three the big jumps continued as Reese went out to 6.97m. Reese led based on her second-best jump, only for Brume to go ahead in the fourth round with a 6.88m. Reese landed a 6.95m in the fifth to claw back the lead. In the final round, Mihambo looked to put the pressure on, and took the lead with a 7.00m jump despite taking off well behind the board.
🥇Malaika Mihambo 🇩🇪
🥈Brittney Reese 🇺🇸
🥉Essa Brume 🇳🇬
Women’s Triple Jump
Yulimer Rojas (Venezuela) entered the event as favourite and led qualifying by 15cm, over Ana Peletiero (Spain). Rojas came straight out the gate with a 15.41m, setting an Olympic record and meaning the battle was for the other podium positions, turning the competition into a battle between = Rojas and herself. Patricia Mamona (Portugal) was second after the opening jump, ahead of Liadagmis Povea (Cuba). Peletiero improved into third with a 14.77m in the second round. With her fourth attempt, Shanieka Ricketts (Jamaica) went into third with a 14.84m. Mamona improved into second with a national record 15.01m. Rojas landed a massive world record in the third but had stepped over the line, before jumping 15.25m in the fourth round. On her fifth attempt, Peletiero took back the bronze with a 14.87m. In her final jump, Rojas jumped 15.67m to set an incredible world record.
🥇Yulimar Rojas 🇻🇪
🥈Patricia Mamona 🇵🇹
🥉Ana Peletiero 🇪🇸
Women’s Shot Put
Eight women qualified by virtue of throwing the required distance, led by Lijiao Gong (China) and compatriot Jiayuan Song (China). Gong led with a 19.95m in the opening round. At the halfway point it was Gong leading with 19.98m, ahead of Raven Saunders (United States) on 19.65m and Valerie Adams (New Zealand) on 19.62m. In the fifth round, Gong extended her lead with a personal best of 20.53. Saunders had improved with a 19.79m, but it was not close enough. Gong did go better in the final round, improving to 20.58.
🥇Lijao Gong 🇨🇳
🥈Raven Saunders 🇺🇸
🥉Valerie Adams 🇳🇿
Women’s Discus Throw
Two qualifiers hit the automatic qualification standard led by Valarie Allman (United States) and Kamalpreet Kaur (India). There were numerous shocks though, as Jorinde van Klinken (Netherlands), Bin Feng (China), Melina Robert-Michon (France) and Denia Caballero (Cuba) went out. Allman came out in round one and threw 68.98m. The rain provided a cruel interruption. Upon the return from the rain, Kristin Pudenz (Germany) threw a personal best of 66.86m. Sandra Perkovic (Croatia), looking for the third Olympic title, struggled with her grip throughout, having landed her 65.01m in the third round. No one managed to improve in the final round.
🥇Valarie Allman 🇺🇸
🥈Kristin Pudenz 🇩🇪
🥉Yaime Perez 🇨🇺
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