Sanya Richard Ross (USA)
400 Meter Gold Medalist
This past Olympic Games had some of the best performances we have ever seen in track and field. Every event was so competitive and had it's on back story. As usual the sprinters were the headliners of the meet but with a great hometown distance performance every race was a spectacle to see. Let's recap some of the best performances of the meet.
MEN'S 100 METER DASH
Everyone practically handed the Gold medal to Yohan Blake of Jamaica. After Blake's sounding victory over his countrymen Usain Bolt at the Jamaican Olympic Trials. It seemed the world was ready and willing to forget about Usain Bolt, after all no one had ever repeated the sprint double. As expected the world doubted Usain Bolt.
Unfortunately for them Usain Bolt refused to listen to their expert analysis. In the 100 meter sprint Justin Gatlin of the United States was the first out of the block and led for the first 30 or so meters of the race. The charging beast of Yohan Blake was next to lead for a few meters before Bolt crashed the party the last 40 meters of the race claiming gold in a winning time of 9.63 a new Olympic Record. Bolt said the victory was even more sweet because everyone doubted him.
Outside of Carl Lewis no male sprinter has ever been able to defend his Olympic title in the 100 meter dash. Bolt has certainly cemented his legendary status with two sensational Olympic Games and being one of only two to go back to back.
MEN'S 10,000 METER RUN
Great Britian was ready to see one of its biggest stars claim the Olympic Gold Medal in a running event. Mo Farah the Somalian-born Englishman was the countries best hope for a Gold Medal in the event. The United States was counting on Galen Rupp to become the first Olympic Medalist in this event in 48 years. Their main challenge was two time defending champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia.
Bekele has been the king of long distance racing dating back to his first Championship Gold medal in Paris 2003. Bekele's legendary status had already been sealed with the two previous Olympic Gold medals but a third would take him over the top.
A traditional game of cat and mouse took place in the long distance event with several lead changes through the race including eventual bronze medalist and brother of Kenenisa, Tariku Bekele. Tariku led for the last few final laps of the rap. However on the final lap of the race using the roar of the distance crowd Mo Farah took the lead after sitting back behind Tariku. Using his devastating finishing kick on the home stretch claiming to gold with Rupp behind him for silver.
WOMEN'S 400 METER DASH
In Beijing in 2008 Sanya Richard-Ross of the United States was the favorite to win the Gold medal. After having a record setting 2006 she was poised to finally get a championship title. Ross ran a poor tactical race going out way too fast. Coming down the home stretch in the final 100 meters Ross began to fade and was passed by Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britian the eventual winner and Shericka Williams of Jamaica.
This time around Ross decided to be a lot smarter about her race. Again Ross came in withe golden expectations but not as world number 1. The number 1 runner was Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia. Unlike 2008 Ross ran the race more reserved taking a steady even pass. Krivoshapka on the other hand went out hard passing Ross on the back-strech, in the final 100 meters Ross would surge to lead as Krivoshapka faded. Ross would claim the Olympic title with a time of 49.55 and finally get her long awaited Gold medal.
WOMEN'S 4X100 RELAY
16 years, that is how long it was been since the United States women have claimed the 4x100 relay title. With a team of Chryste Gaines, Gail Devers, Inger Miller and Gwen Torrence Team USA claimed the women's title in 1996 with a time of 41.95. The Olympic Games following that have been a huge disappointment. In 2000 poor passes resulted in an bronze medal and a Gold medal for the Bahamas, in 2004 Marion Jones and Lauryn Williams were unable to connect resulting in no finish. In 2008 Lauryn Williams again was unable to connect with Torri Edwards resulting in a dropped baton.
After the embarrassment that was the Beijing Olympics Jon Drummond was hired by the United States Track and Field organization to fix the relay problems of both men and women. Entering in the Olympic Games Jamaica seemed to have the team to beat. A solid quartet of runners including Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart. They were still no match for what Drummond had put together. Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter had nearly perfect passes, add to the that a strong first leg from Madison resulted in a Olympic and World record time of 40.82. Team USA became the first country to have a women's team break 41 seconds.
