Paris 2024 Olympics: Justin Gatlin saves special praise for Letsile Tebogo & Marcell Jacobs despite failing to achieve podium finishes in 100m final

Gatlin believes both sprinters have the capabilities to kick on from their performances in the final of the 100m, which saw all the eight racers sensationally record sub-9.92 second finishes.

Former American sprinter Justin Gatlin has offered high praise to Lamont Marcell Jacobs and Letsile Tebogo for their impressive performances in the 100 meters final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite both athletes falling short of a podium finish.

In a fiercely contested race, Noah Lyles claimed the gold medal with a time of 9.79 seconds, edging out Kishane Thompson by mere milliseconds. Fred Kerley secured the bronze in 9.81 seconds, leaving Jacobs and Tebogo just outside the top three.

Jacobs finished fifth with a season’s best time of 9.85 seconds. Although he was unable to replicate the magic of his stunning victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Gatlin lauded his resilience and determination, particularly given the pressure that comes with defending an Olympic title.

“Marcell did a great job because the pressure you have being Olympic champion and then being defending champion, if you look at those bibs, only two were colored, Noah’s who is world champion and Jacobs, who was Olympic champion,” Gatlin noted on his Ready Set Go podcast.

“It comes with a lot of pressure and knowing how Marcell had his season and how he had to bring himself back together race by race, taking your time, going through the rounds and seizing the moment like he did the first time,” he added.

Jacobs entered the final as one of the ‘fastest losers’ from the semi-finals, and despite his best efforts, he was unable to climb back onto the podium. Gatlin, however, emphasized the significance of Jacobs' performance under such immense pressure.

“If the roles were a little different and there wasn’t a Noah who is Noah today or Kishane who arrived with superfast times, we might have been looking at Jacobs being back on the podium,” Gatlin said.

Jacobs was seen limping off the track after the race, a clear indication of the physical toll it took on him. Gatlin commended the Italian sprinter’s perseverance, particularly in light of his recent struggles.

“To get to those blocks with over 100,000 people watching you in person and millions of people watching you at home and to give it your all even with the injury, it is commendable,” Gatlin remarked.

“Shout out to Marcell. You did an amazing job and knowing that you have the talent and capability to be the champion we know you can be.”

Letsile Tebogo, who finished sixth with a time of 9.86 seconds, also received praise from Gatlin. The young sprinter from Botswana has faced a challenging season, including the personal tragedy of losing his mother. Despite these difficulties, Tebogo has continued to compete at the highest level, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Gatlin.

“Let us not forget he lost his mother this year and that is a big deal. He did an amazing job of navigating the rest of his season and getting to the finals and still has the 200 and 4 by 4 left,” Gatlin observed.

“I cannot imagine what he is going through mentally and emotionally and what the season means to him. I commend him on still going through the checks and balances of being the athlete he needs to be and the people cheering for him and still coming out with a national record going into the 200.”

Tebogo’s resilience and determination to compete at such a high level despite personal hardships highlight the spirit of an athlete who is destined for greatness. As he prepares for the 200 meters and the 4x400 relay, he carries with him not just the hopes of his nation but also the admiration of one of the sport’s legends.