CNN
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After a tough year, 2022 has turned golden for Lamont Marcell Jacobs – Jacobs finished first in the men’s 100m at the 2022 European Athletics Championships on Tuesday at Munich’s Olympiastadion.
The 27-year-old Italian finished with a time of 9.95 seconds, slightly ahead of Team GB’s Zharnel Hughes who finished in 9.99 seconds and his teammate, Jeremiah Azu, who finished in 10.13 seconds.
In doing so, Jacobs became only the third man in history to win Olympic 100m gold and European gold back-to-back – after Valreiy Borzov of the Soviet Union and Britain’s Linford Christie – after shocking the world at Tokyo 2020 when he stormed to victory.
The victory also caps an injury-riddled season, during which he had to retire from competition, having to deal with health and muscle problems ahead of Munich.
And after such a frustrating season, victory is all the more satisfying for Jacobs.
“I am very happy with this result. It was not my best race from a technical point of view and the weather is not what I wanted, but it was important to cross the line first after such a complicated outdoor season full of injuries. , Jacobs said after the race.
“Coming here and showing that I am the best is something beautiful that motivates me to push even harder.”
Before the start of the season, he aimed to win three medals. And with two out of three medals achieved, after winning the world indoor 60m title in Belgrade in March, Jacobs says the year as a whole can be considered a “good result”.
“Being forced to withdraw from the semi-finals at the world championships was a big disappointment, but next year there will be other championships and all my motivation will be to do well there,” he said. he declares.
“I want to say thank you to the people who supported me, and also to those who criticized me because they gave me the energy to show that I am the best.
“I would like to see him again because I think I raced better in the semi-finals. Maybe I was too tense and didn’t start well, then I managed to pick up some speed, but it was important to finish in front. When I was training in the starting blocks, I felt a pain in my calf, but I tried to give it my all, and luckily it was only a small problem.
“The weather isn’t as good as I wanted because I’m always aiming for the best, but I’m happy with it. A lot of people thought I wouldn’t even start and winning the gold means we’ve done well and I can go on to achieve great things. Now I’m looking to win more with the 4×100.
In the women’s 100m final, Gina Lückenkemper gave the predominantly German crowd something to cheer about.
The 25-year-old, who won silver at the 2018 European Championships, did better at home, winning gold in front of her home fans.
In an extremely tight finish, Lückenkemper clocked a season-best time of 10.99 seconds to win gold, just five thousandths ahead of Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji in second with 10.99 (0.989), Britain’s Daryll Neita finishing third in 11.00 seconds.
“I am incredibly grateful to you,” Lückenkemper exclaimed to the crowd after his victory. “Standing in this cauldron today has motivated me incredibly.”
Reigning three-time European champion Dina Asher-Smith was only able to cross the finish line in last position after complaining of cramps.
“I had cramps in both calves, I’ve never had cramps in my life during a race and it could have something to do with my hydration, so I’m going back to see with my team,” he said. she stated afterwards.
