Fraser-Pryce and Bromell Clear Favorites for 100 Meter Golds
The 100-meters, the Olympic Games showpiece event, takes place this weekend. For the men the 2020 Olympics represents a changing of the guard. 2008, 2012 and 2016 gold medal winner Usain Bolt has retired. Five-time Olympic medalist and 2004 100-meters winner Justin Gatlin is not at the Games. In the woman’s division an Olympic champion does return. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who – at 34 is the same age as Usain Bolt – will be competing in her fourth Olympic Games on Friday.
Will Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce become a God-like Olympic legend this weekend? ©GettyImages
Fraser-Pryce Is on Fire
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’ amazing career almost mirrors that of Usain Bolt. Both are from Jamaica, both took 100-meter gold in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. 2016 may have only yielded a bronze for her but at the 2020 Olympics the athlete they describe as ‘the fastest living woman’ is the even-money favorite for sprinting gold.
Her short odds are so short due to her June 5 clocking of 10.63 seconds in Jamaica’s national athletics championships. That time makes her the second fastest woman ever. In the same week she also smashed her personal best for 200-metres.
If setting a brace of personal bests while approaching her mid-thirties is not amazing enough, in 2017 Fraser-Pryce became a first-time mother. Amusingly she went into labor whilst watching the 2017 World Championships on television!
Little wonder, in 2019, the BBC included her in their list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.
When to Watch the Women’s 100-meters
The women’s 100-meter preliminaries get underway at 9am Friday morning (local Tokyo time). First round heats follow at 12.15pm. Three semi-finals begin on Saturday starting at 7.15pm. The final will be the last event of the night in the stadium. It is scheduled to start at 9.50pm local time which is 2.50pm CET or 1.50pm GMT.
Injury Free Bromell 100-Meter Favorite
The favorite for the men’s 100-meters is Trayvon Bromell. He is eight years younger than Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and he is not likely to give birth anytime soon!
Nevertheless, he too has had an amazing year clocking 9.77 seconds at the US Olympic trials. In doing so he recorded the fastest time of 2021.
Bromell was a 100-meter Olympic finalist in 2016 but he was helped off the track by a medical team in a wheelchair suffering with a torn Achilles tendon at the conclusion of the 4 x 100-meter relay days later.
After surgery an attempt to return to competitive action in 2017 amounted to little – he finished 21st in the US Championship – Bromell vanished from sight.
Not racing at all in 2018 following further surgery, the American then suffered a hip injury in 2019. Consequently, the postponement of the 2020 Olympics has been described as “a godsend” for the athlete who is finally injury fee. …and yes, he is a religious man.
Bolt Impressed by Bromell
One person who is fully aware of the injury free potential is Usain Bolt who thinks Bromell is the athlete he may be passing his proverbial baton on to.
“Bromell is showing great promise”
said Bolt when talking to the Associated Press.
“I must say, it’s something I’m looking forward to. He’s been a talent over the years and proven himself to be good. But he’s had some bad injuries.
“He’s showing up this season. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the Olympics,” Bolt added. “Let’s see what happens next. I’m keeping my eyes on Bromell because I know the times and seen the work.”
The bookmakers are equally bullish about the Floridian’s chances. He is 10/11 favorite with the Betvictor sportsbook to collect gold. Their second favorite, at 4/1, is another American, Ronnie Baker.
27-year-old Baker won at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco earlier this month recording 9.91 seconds. He had previously finished second to Bromell in the US Olympic trials.
Trayvon Bromell was victorious in the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland.
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When to Watch the Men’s 100-meters
The men’s 100-meter preliminaries kick-off at 11.35am Saturday morning (local Tokyo time). Seven first round heats start that evening beginning at 7.45pm. Three semi-finals get underway on Sunday starting at 7.15pm. The final, the highlight of most people’s games, is scheduled to start at 9.50pm local time. Accounting for the time-difference that is 2.50pm CET or 1.50pm GMT.
