SAINT-DENIS, France — It was 40 years ago when Alonzo Babers won the men’s 400 meters at the Los Angeles Summer Games. It sparked a ridiculous run of seven straight Olympic cycles of Team USA gold.
But that run ended after LaShawn Merritt’s win in 2008. Those Beijing Games were the second consecutive American sweep in the 400. Since then, the American men have managed one bronze — Merritt in 2016 — in the 400 meters.
The quarter-mile is an American institution. One medal in 16 years is a disgrace to the name of the legendary Michael Johnson. Who shall return 400-meter glory to its rightful home?
Quincy Hall is about that life. He posted a personal best of 43.40 seconds in a come-from-behind to snatch the gold away. Because it had to be snatched.
NEVER doubt Quincy Hall. 😱
A EPIC comeback to win 400m GOLD! #ParisOlympics
📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/qQJqfxrH9n
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024
Hall came out of the turn into the final 100 and looked to be in trouble. Especially with his running style. His kick feels like a fight against an invisible foe. He strains and punches and grimaces. That’s what America needed. To fight back.
One by one, he picked them off. They were fading. Hall was getting stronger. The Olympic rookie looked anything but.
Hall is unheralded. He’s battled with injuries. He’s new to the Olympic stage. He doesn’t do much to bring attention to himself. But know this: Hall is elite.
It seemed as if the men’s 400-meter race was wide-open this year, especially with Jamaican Antonio Watson, the reigning world championship, not in Paris. There figured to be a bunch of possibilities for who’d come out on top. Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith is ranked No. 2 in the world and he bested Hall in the 2023 World Championships. Grenada’s Kirani James — the first ever with three medals in the 400 meters, including gold in 2012 — had the best time in the semifinals. Muzala Samukonga from Zambia put up a national record in the semis. Even American Michael Norman looked really good leading to the finals.
But Hall showed just how elite he is on Wednesday night at Stade de France.
Dude is a different breed. He started at the community college level. He races with a gold grill in his mouth. He wears long, loose boxers under his kit. No bunch is going to bother him.
America needed a real one to go take what belongs to it in a race that’s been begging for an American star. And Hall was all about it.
(Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Publish date : 2024-08-06 13:00:00
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