BBC commentators acknowledged a possible US sweep in 100 hurdles, but I’d seen that prediction get jinxed too many times to hold my breath about it. Victory for Brianna Rollins was evident but second, third and fourth looked too close to call for me even after the replay.
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Japan’s Kaori Icho has become the first wrestler in Olympic history to win four gold medals, beating Russia’s Valeriia Koblova Zholobova 3-2 in 58-kilogram women’s freestyle. Nia Ali finished with the silver and and Kristi Castlin finished third for the bronze.
The trio of friends shrieked in delight and jumped up and down on the track in an embrace when the scoreboard confirmed they had secured the first Olympic podium sweep in the women’s sprint hurdles.
She started things off by unseating Reese, the defending Olympic champion, in the long jump.
The real suspense in the 100 hurdles was if Castlin had indeed come in third, and a review confirmed that she did nip the competition for the bronze.
Conseslus Kipruto has continued Kenya’s streak of Olympic titles in the men’s steeplechase, winning the gold medal in a games record of 8 minutes, 03.28 seconds. “We came in and did it for girl power, for the United States of America, so we were actually able to do a first sweep in USA history”. “It was an awesome hour”.
“I knew I got the gold, I just wanted to make sure my team mates medalled as well”, Rollins told reporters.
There were a handful of other star spangled celebrations on the US track team’s finest day at the Olympics so far.
And finally there was the long jump, where Tianna Bartoletta upset reigning Olympic champion and fellow American Brittany Reese by just two centimeters.
American record holder Jager is the first US men’s steeplechase medalist to win since Brian Diemer’s 1984 bronze medal win.
Rollins was the youngest 100 hurdles champion at the World Championships in 2013 when she a day short of her 22nd birthday.
The American women are eyeing a sweep in the 100 hurdles, the team is that deep. The most recent US 1-2-3’s: the 400 and 400 hurdles at the Beijing 2008 Games. “I mean the world record was run right after our trials”.
The medals were particularly special for Castlin and Ali, both of whom traveled hard paths to Rio.
“It’s a relief. There has been such a lot of anticipation”, Rollins said.
At age 12, Castlin also lost her father when he was shot to death at the hotel where he worked during a botched robbery attempt.
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Nia Ali found out what happened over the phone from her uncle. By the time her dad’s killer was finally sent to prison 15 years later, Castlin had blossomed into a college All-American and one of the U.S.’s best hurdlers. “I see mothers struggle to get their body back”, said Ali.
