The medal decisions and the Swiss entries in athletics at the Olympic Games in Paris on Wednesday, August 7.
Joseph misses the Olympic final
Just like three years ago in Tokyo, Jason Joseph also misses the entry to the Olympic final in Paris over 110 m hurdles. The 25-year-old from Basel finishes only in 6th place in his semifinal and is eliminated.
Jason Joseph’s semifinal.Video: SRF
“It’s a real pity that it didn’t work out at the Olympics. It was huge to be here. But it wasn’t what I wanted to show. It’s not a good sign that it’s not the first time this season that it hasn’t come together. But it is what it is. The best part of the race was the start. Everything afterwards was a summary of the whole season. The fast runs, the runs with a good feeling are missing. Accordingly, it went today.”
After a cautious start, Joseph could not accelerate. With a time of 13.43 seconds, the European bronze medalist from Rome was not only significantly above his personal best (13.08) but also above the time, with which he won his heat. That 13.26 would have been enough for a spot in the final.
Hall snatches gold from Hudson-Smith
American Quincy Hall secured the gold medal in the 400 m. The world bronze medalist overtook three competitors with a strong finishing sprint in the last 50 meters and also passed Briton Matthew Hudson-Smith. Hall finished in 43.30 seconds. It had been eight years since someone has run a faster lap.
Hall overtakes everyone on the final stretch.Video: SRF
World silver medalist Hudson-Smith finished just four hundredths behind, while bronze went to Muzala Samukonga from Zambia. James Kirani placed 5th and went home empty-handed this time. The man from Grenada has already secured a complete set of medals at the Olympic Games: Gold (2012), Silver (2016), and Bronze (2021).
Image: keystone
Title defense and severe fall
Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali clinched gold in the 3000 m steeplechase just like in Tokyo. This makes the double world champion a double Olympic champion as well. Right behind him, American Kenneth Rooks surprisingly secured silver. The 24-year-old improved his previous best time by nearly nine seconds. Bronze went to Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot.
El-Bakkali keeps Rooks at bay.Video: SRF
The race was overshadowed by a severe fall of world record holder Lamecha Girma. The Ethiopian fell at the second-to-last barrier just over 200 m from the finish and had to be transported off on a stretcher later.
Fall drama surrounding Lobalu
The first heat of the 5000 m ended turbulently. In the thick of it was Dominic Lobalu, who competes for Switzerland in everyday life and participates as a member of the refugee team in the Olympic Games in Paris.
Lobalu fell on the home stretch. However, he fell because two opponents tangled in front of him and fell, and Lobalu could not avoid them. The officials decided that as he was not at fault, Dominic Lobalu would be allowed to start in the final on Saturday evening.
The last lap with the fall at 0:53 min.Video: SRF
Jonas Räss will not make a second appearance. He was too slow as he finished 12th in the other 5000 m heat in 13:55.04 minutes.
Ditaji Kambundji has room for improvement
Ditaji Kambundji has cleared the first hurdle. The 22-year-old from Bern made it directly to the semifinals in the 100 m hurdles on Friday. Kambundji had a good start but lost some tenths in the finish to two opponents who crossed the finish line ahead of her.
Focused on another round: Ditaji Kambundji.Image: keystone
“It wasn’t the perfect race for sure,” she said to SRF. 12.81 seconds were enough for the Swiss athlete to advance, who was satisfied after a complicated preparation with thigh problems. “I’m mega relieved, I was able to run pain-free and with confidence. I’m already looking forward to the next race in this great stadium.”
Surprise gold in the discus
In discus throwing, Jamaican Roje Stona surprisingly crowned himself Olympic champion. The 25-year-old threw his fourth attempt to 70.00 m – no one had ever thrown further at the Olympic Games. Not even world record holder Mykolas Alekna, who managed 69.79 m with his second attempt – and was ultimately surpassed by the meager three centimeters. The 21-year-old Lithuanian, world silver medalist in 2022 and world bronze medalist in 2023, was on the best path to follow in his father Virgilijus’ footsteps. The latter won Olympic gold in 2000 and 2004.
Roje Stona’s gold throw.Video: SRF
Gold goes to Spain
There they go.Image: keystone
The Olympic premiere of the team competition over 35 kilometers in race walking was captured by a Spanish duo. Maria Perez and Alvaro Martin won with a margin of 51 seconds over Ecuador, while Bronze went to Australia with a 1:07 minute deficit. (ram/abu/sda)
More about the Olympic Games:
All athletics world records
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All athletics world records
Men’s – 100 meters: Usain Bolt (JAM), 9.58 seconds, 2009 in Berlin.
source: ap / gero breloer
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