Bakkali has extended its reign over obstacles

Soufiane El Bakkali came back in the final stages to repeat his Olympic gold in the 3,000 meters steeplechase in an early final, which was marked by the accident of Ethiopian Lamecha Girma, the other great favourite, who fell violently after tripping over a at the obstacles in the last lap. Bakkali won with 8:06.05, but had to sweat to overcome the surprise of the day, the American Kenneth Rooks, a missionary who took silver at the age of 29 (8:06.41) ahead of Abraham Kibiwot. Spaniard Dani Arce was close to his best time, finishing tenth (8:13.80).

Unexpected discus champion: Jamaican Roje Stona, not a sprinter, gave his country its first athletics gold at these Games with a throw of 70.00 meters in which he wrested victory from the world record holder, Mykola Alekna, by 3 centimeters (69.97). Alekna settled for taking the Olympic record from her father, Virgilius, but it didn’t last long, until Stona surpassed her mark.

The men’s 400 meters final had a final thriller, with the exciting comeback of American Quincy Hall, gold with a magnificent 43.40 that puts him third in the all-time ranking. Hall was still out of the medals midway through the final stage, but he finished better than the others, including Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, who took the silver medal after his victory was largely dismissed. The athlete from the United Kingdom also took the European distance record from Paris, with a time of 43.44. Zambia climbed to the podium thanks to Muzala Samukonga, who finished third with 43.74. Former Olympic champion Kirani James, fifth, was left out of the medals, and as many as six men dipped below 44 seconds.

Changing of the guard in the women’s pole vault final. The queen of Tokyo 2020, the American Katie Moon, is second this time (4.85) after the Australian Nina Kennedy (4.90), who is also the world champion.