On Wednesday night, Quincy Hall stunned everyone by making a dramatic comeback and emerging as the newest American wonder in Olympic track and field. He came from behind to pass three competitors in the 400-meter event and win the gold.
Approaching the last turn, Hall was in fourth position among the runners. In 43.40 seconds, the fourth fastest time ever, he crossed the finish line after passing two runners on the inside and overtaking the outside racer. Making snow angels on the track, he celebrated.
“I’m determined,” Hall declared. It’s what helped me cross the finish line. So much agony, so much pain.”
Muzala Samukonga of Zambia won bronze, and Hall narrowly defeated Matthew Hudson-Smith of Britain, who set the fifth fastest time in history, by 0.04 seconds.
Since LaShawn Merritt in 2008, Hall is the first American to win gold in the one-lap competition. On the same night that he won, American Cole Hocker upset the favorites in the men’s 1,500 meters with a stunning comeback.
Add to this Noah Lyles, who appeared to be making incredible comebacks as he crossed the finish line in his exciting 100-meter dash, and it appears like American sportsmen are returning to form.
About an hour after Lyles advanced to the 200-meter final after losing to Letsile Tebogo in the semifinals, Hall triumphed. On Thursday, Lyles is going to compete in the final.
The 26-year-old Hall, who enjoys riding horses and dogs, frequently confronts difficulties in races where quickness is essential. As they entered the last turn, he was 5 meters behind 2012 champion Kirani James and Hudson-Smith, who were both to his left. On his outside, he passed Jereem Richards, who appeared to be a serious bronze medal contender.
Ultimately, Hall overcame James and Richards by making a strong attempt to overtake the British runner, and Samukonga unexpectedly took third place.
“I’ve completed it. It’s ended,” Hall declared. “For the next four years, I get to call myself an Olympic champion.”
Morocco won its first medal at the Games on Wednesday when Soufiane El Bakkali held onto his gold in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
El Bakkali became the first victor of the event to win twice since Volmari Iso-Hollo of Finland in 1932 and 1936 with a timing of 8 minutes, and 6.05 seconds. American Kenneth Rooks took silver with a personal best time of 8:06.41, followed by Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya in bronze.
El Bakkali passed Rooks, who had the lead and appeared ready to cause an upset in the closing moments. Despite this, Rooks broke his record by almost nine seconds, giving the United States its second silver medal in this event in three Olympics.
World record holder Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia had to be stretchered off after suffering a late fall due to hitting a barrier and landing hard on the track.
Earlier, Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania, the world record holder who aimed to emulate his father’s Olympic triumph, lost to Roje Stona of Jamaica, who won gold in the men’s discus with a throw of 70 meters.
With a throw of 69.97 meters, the 21-year-old Alekna shattered his father’s record and won home silver. Australia’s Matthew Denny, who placed fourth in Tokyo, brought home bronze.
With a leap of 4.90 meters, Australian Nina Kennedy won the gold in the women’s pole vault, besting American Katie Moon, the world champion this year and the gold medallist from Tokyo, with whom Kennedy had shared the championship.
With a 4.85-meter leap, Moon won silver, and Alysha Newman of Canada claimed bronze despite having more misses than aces.
