Reaching an Olympic 100-meter final is Gina Lückenkemper’s big dream. She can’t make it come true in Paris either. Gold goes to a sprinter from St. Lucia.
Sprinter Julien Alfred has given St. Lucia her first Olympic medal with gold in the 100 meters. The 23-year-old indoor world champion won the final with a clear national record time of 10.72 seconds. The US college champion can also count on a chance in the 200 meters.
Silver went to Sha’Carri Richardson from the USA in 10.87 seconds in the rain at the Stade de France. The world champion was absent from Tokyo three years ago after a positive cannabis test, after her mother had died. Bronze went to US teammate Melissa Jefferson in 10.92 seconds.
Lückenkemper is annoyed
Gina Lückenkemper once again missed out on making it into her first Olympic final over 100 metres. The best German sprinter was eliminated in the semifinals in Saint-Denis in fourth place in 11.09 seconds. To advance, the double European champion from 2022 would have had to finish in one of the first two places or run a faster time.
“It just wasn’t enough, it’s just annoying,” said Lückenkemper about her exit. Faster than the 27-year-old were winner Tia Clayton from Jamaica in 10.89 seconds, Briton Daryll Neita in 10.97 seconds and Twanisha Terry from the USA in 11.07 seconds. Terry thus made it to the final.
Lückenkemper said her first thought was: “This can’t really be serious. I’m really annoyed. Especially because it was a time that I was really into. I just didn’t manage to get it on track today.”
Confusion over absence of Fraser-Pryce
Three-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica was surprisingly absent from the semi-finals. According to media reports, she, like Richardson, was allowed into the stadium where the athletes warm up next to the Stade de France late. Fraser-Pryce complained about this in a video that circulated on social networks. The International Athletics Federation cited an injury as a possible reason.
Compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah, who won gold in Rio in 2016 and 2021, is missing this time after tearing her Achilles tendon. Fellow favorite Shericka Jackson from Jamaica also decided not to start due to injury.
Source: Stern
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