We’re wowed by home heroes ’n Holm hero
KARSTEN’S STUNNING GOLDEN TRIUMPH REWRITES HISTORY
THERE have been complaints in some quarters that the BBC’s coverage of Tokyo 2020 has been too jingoistic.
Concerned mutterings the Corporation has been cheerleading and flag-waving rather than commentating and analysing. A bit harsh, to say the least.
But they had no choice when the men lined up for the 400 metres hurdles final yesterday morning.
Instead, like us, like the rest of the world, they could only sit back and marvel.
No, not marvel, because you can marvel at all the wonderful performances scattered across these Games.
Rather watch completely aghast as the Race of the Century rewrote Olympic and athletics history.
Let’s put it this way, the Beeb’s coterie of pundits could not remember a better race. Ever.
Not Steve Cram, not Colin Jackson, not Denise Lewis, not even Michael Johnson – and he ran a few epics himself.
As Norway’s Karsten Warholm crossed the line in 45.94 seconds, they could barely believe their eyes.
When it comes to the stats, where would you like to begin?
The three medallists – America’s Rai Benjamin took silver and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos bronze – now stand one, two and three on the alltime list of 400 metres hurdlers.
In 44 years, the world record had come down by 0.75 seconds. In one remarkable lap, it came down by 0.76 seconds.
In the disbelieving aftermath, Warholm spoke of the ‘crazy track’ and Benjamin called it a ‘phenomenal track’.
Warholm, 25, also suggested Benjamin’s cushioned Nike shoes acted like ‘trampolines’. Considering the Norwegian’s Puma spikes were developed in conjunction with the Mercedes F1 team and featured a special carbon plate, that seemed a little rich.
But there is no doubt the surface and the shoes are combining to produce some eye-catching times in Tokyo.
Look at Italian Marcell Jacobs’ stark improvement in winning the men’s 100 metres or 19-year-old Keely Hodgkinson running almost two seconds quicker than she ever had done before in taking silver in the women’s 800 metres.
And then, there is the phenomenal
Elaine ThomsonHerah, the double sprint champion again and, in winning 200 metres gold yesterday, clocking the second fastest time ever.
As always with athletics, some might wonder if other influences are in play.
But perhaps, modern training regimes and dedication martially mean athletes are always going to get faster, higher, stronger.
Perhaps, as Warholm and Benjamin so spectacularly proved, the Olympics can truly inspire... almost beyond belief.