Olympics: Men's 100m Preview

Men’s 100m

Preliminary Round 8:30 AM Saturday, August 13^th

Heats 11:00 AM Saturday, August 13^th

Semi-Final 8:00 PM Sunday, August 14^th

Final 9:25 PM Sunday, August 14^th     

World Record: Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 9.58, 2009

Best Mark Past 10 Years: Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 9.58, 2009

Olympic Record: Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 9.63, 2012

A Standard: 10.16

2012 Olympic Medalists

Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 9.63, Yohan Blake (Jamaica) 9.75, Justin Gatlin (USA) 9.79

2015 World Championship Medalists

Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 9.79, Justin Gatlin (USA) 9.80, T-Trayvon Bromell (USA), Andre De Grasse (Canada) 9.92

2016 World Leaders

Justin Gatlin (USA) 9.80, Trayvon Bromell (USA) 9.84, Jimmy Vicaut (France) 9.86

Team USA

Just Gatlin, 34 (9.74/9.80), Trayvon Bromell, 21 (9.84/9.84), Marvin Bracy, 22 (9.93/9.94)

Last year the World Championship 100 meter final was billed as a battle of good and evil. Usain Bolt of Jamaica battled with the USA’s Justin Gatlin, a man who has served a suspension for performance enhancing drugs. Whether you agree with the narrative or not, the pressure may have gotten to Gatlin has he broke form in the final meters, allowing Bolt to defeat him in his return to Beijing, the same place where he became a global superstar in 2008.

If it wasn’t for a false start in 2011, Bolt would have won the past 6 world championships in the 100m. He’s run blistering fast times of 9.58 (2009) and 9.63 (2012) but he’s slowing down. At 29, Bolt’s 100 best this season is just 4^th in the world and his 2015 winning mark of 9.79 was the slowest of any of his winning efforts. For most, the 200 is seen as Bolt’s better event and the 100 is certainly where he appears most vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Justin Gatlin, at 34 years of age, is still rolling. He has run 9.80 this year is the current world leader. He’s been utterly dominant this year (although he hasn’t faced Bolt) and he enters this final as arguably the favorite for gold among the more religious followers of the sport. He could potentially topple Bolt and end his quest for an unprecedented 3 straight Olympic golds.

Behind the top two names, Frenchmen Jimmy Vicaut is quietly putting together a monster year. He’s been under 9.9 twice this season, including his #3 mark in the world of 9.86. He doesn’t have any senior medals on his resume, but with bests of 9.86 each of the past two seasons the 24 year old is knocking on the door. The USA’s Trayvon Bromell (21) is also doing his best running in 2016. He ran 9.84 at the Olympic Trials and is a bronze medalist already on the world scene. Of course his rival, Canada’s Andre DeGrasse, split that bronze medal with him and is still lurking as a medal contender this year. The former NCAA champ at USC has freakish talent but has been quiet on the global scene in 2016. His best this year is only 9.99. But watching him at the ATL meet against Asafa Powell reminded us of his talent.

The last USA team member is Marvin Bracy. Bracy’s a sub 10 performer this season (9.94 this year) and is a phenomenal 60m sprinter (PR of 6.48). He finished 2^nd in the 2014 world championships indoors in that event. He’s not quite as strong over the full hundred, but he’s got such raw speed that when he puts it together he’s a monster. He made the 100 team out of the US so, naturally, he’s got great odds of making the final and an outside chance at the medals, but it’s going to be tough for him to jump some of the names I’ve already discussed.

Ultimately, I think Bolt will win this one. Perhaps that’s more desire than logic. It’s really hard to bet against Gatlin, but somehow Bolt always seems to find a way. 3^rd is up for grabs, but I’ll go American here, trusting in our 100 depth.

1.      Bolt, 2. Gatlin, 3. Bromell