TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 01: Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Team Italy celebrates after winning gold in the Men's 100m Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 01, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Lamont Jacobs is the first-ever from Italy to win an Olympic medal in the 100-meter dash in the Games’ 125-year history. Not only that but he now holds the title of the world’s fastest man.
Jacobs was born in Texas to an Italian mother and American father. His parents split when he was six months old and his mother took him back to Italy. Jacobs said that he did not speak to his father again until last year, but he needed to reconnect to prepare for the Olympics.
“I never saw my dad from that time,” Jacobs said. “But I started to speak with him one year ago for the first time. This helped me arrive here with a good mentality.”
Jacobs set a European record in the men’s 100-meter dash, finishing in 9.80 seconds to win the gold medal. It capped a glorious few minutes for Italy at the Olympic Stadium with Jacobs’ victory coming shortly after It capped a glorious few minutes for Italy at the Olympic Stadium with Jacobs’ victory coming shortly after Gianmarco Tamberi‘s gold medal in the high jump.
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“It was my childhood dream to win an Olympic Games, and obviously, a dream can turn into something different, but to run this final and win it is a dream come true,” Jacobs said after his win. “I want to thank my family that has always supported me, my children, and my mom, who has been my number one fan since I was a child, and my team who have followed me and those who support me.”
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