In a thrilling first round, South Africa’s Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, and Benjamin Richardson have qualified for the men’s 100m semi-finals at the Paris Olympics. Simbine won his heat, clocking in at an impressive 10.03 seconds.
Maswanganyi held his own against American favourite Noah Lyles to finish third in his heat with a time of 10.06 seconds. Meanwhile, Richardson advanced as one of the fastest losers after finishing his heat in 10.06 seconds.
The first round wasn’t smooth sailing for some of the top contenders. Noah Lyles, who is regarded as the form athlete, had a slow start, finishing second behind Britain’s Louie Hinchliffe with a time of 10.04 seconds.
Italy’s Marcell Jacobs, the surprise gold medalist from Tokyo, also had a tough heat, just managing to qualify with a time of 10.05 seconds. Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, in contrast, appeared in great form, delivering a controlled run to finish in 10 seconds flat, despite easing down towards the end.
The sluggish starts and laborious performances of the men’s favourites starkly contrasted with the dominant displays by the women’s 100m stars the day before. Flamboyant US track athlete Sha’Carri Richardson showcased her confidence and form, asserting herself as a dominant force in the women’s heats as she hunts for Olympic gold to complement her world title.
As we head into the semi-finals, all eyes will be on Simbine, Lyles, and Jacobs to see if they can overcome their initial hiccups. Fans are eager to see whether these athletes can reach peak performance and contest for podium finishes. With stiff competition from athletes like Kishane Thompson, the men’s 100m semi-finals promise to be an electrifying showdown at the Paris Olympics.
