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Defending Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs has insisted that he is not afraid of Noah Lyles as he revealed the opponent he is most worried about at the Paris Olympics.
Defending Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs has not been talked about much in the build up to the Paris Olympic Games with Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson dominating almost every media outlet.
However, the Italian sprint king should not be ruled out just yet, since he has been laid back and raced sparingly in the build up to the Olympics. With this, it is hard to gauge his form going to the event.
In an interview with the Italian Athletics Federation, Jacobs insisted that he feels the positive vibes in the village and is looking forward to executing a great race come the men’s 100m race.
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Jacobs is under pressure to deliver but disclosed that he is not afraid of Lyles as he added that his main opposition would be Kishane Thompson.
“I feel positive vibes. I’m trying to enjoy the village, the colors, the people as much as possible: in Tokyo there was no one around. This morning I went on the court, I smelled my opponents: in the final anyone can win,” Jacobs said.
"The pressure is there, it's heavy, but I've worked to turn it into an advantage. I don't see Noah Lyles in pole position, I'm more scared of Jamaican Kishane Thompson. But Noah has the mentality of a champion, he wants to win, not participate. He arrives with a great deal of energy, given the world gold in the 100, 200 and relay: this does not mean he is unbeatable,” he added.
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Jacobs is also working on the finer aspects of his race as he looks to make an impact at the Olympics. He admitted that working with coach Rana Reider has been impressive and can’t wait to see how he executes the races.
Jacobs added that time has flown by very fast as he reflected on the challenges he has faced to make the Olympic team.
"These three years have flown by. I've always been myself, the same guy who likes to be among people and be happy. Some situations have led me to close myself off but I've also enjoyed the negative moments,” he said.
“In Tokyo I was an outsider, now I am the reigning champion: everyone expects a lot, that's the difference. The most complicated part is the semifinal, with 15-16 athletes ready to enter the final,” he added.
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