Elaine Thompson-Herah celebrates her victory in the women’s 100 singles. /
The organization was brave, it saved the Games and the Olympians have been ’10’
With the experience that having participated in three Games gives me, I must say that, despite the lack of public, these two weeks we have experienced a fantastic show in Tokyo. They may not have been the best, but the organizers and the IOC have saved the furniture. The athletes have been impressive. For a more political-sanitary than sporting effect, months before the Games the capacity of the Japanese was doubted and they were on the verge of not being held. But they were brave and the result has been flawless.
I am still impressed with the performance of the athletes. I knew, because I was an Olympian, that they were going to do their best, but after a year and a half with very few competitions, always wondering whether the Games were going to be held or not, their nerves consumed them. And we have even been lucky enough to see world records. What more can we ask for!
Italy has won the 100 and the relay. Jacobs will not be Bolt but he has been the fastest. There have been many bigger ones: the records of the Norwegian Karsten Warholm and the American Sidney Mclaughlin in the 400 meters hurdles. Yilimar Rojas flew in triple jump rather than jump. And in the 1,500 female and male they flew as well. Faith Kipyegon hit Hassan well and Norwegian Ingebrigtsen proved he can be faster than El Guerrouj. The Jamaican Thompson-Herah, gold in 100, 200 and short relay, has been the queen of athletics and to elect the Olympic pharaoh I had my doubts: finally, my streak of ‘long distance runner’ has made me tip the balance in favor of the Ugandan Cheptegei, gold at 5,000 and silver at 10,000.
I always believed that the queen was going to be Sifan Hassan but so much selfishness … I dreamed of three golds. I appreciate his effort but he has shown that, even despite his talent, when someone is tired and faces athletes like the Kenyan champion Kipyegon, they become vulnerable. And Hassan is human.
In the men’s high jump, everything was very fair play. Tamberi and Barshim’s decision to share the gold seemed like a very elegant and emotional gesture to me, but then it reminded me that medals are not a gift, you have to compete. What would it have seemed to you if Anton and I had entered the World Cup in Athens hand in hand? We are compatriots, but no joke. That day I was the most injured. He should have negotiated …! I say it with irony.
The big losers have their own name and it is none other than the American men’s team. Gold for a country accustomed to bathing in this metal is a poor baggage. I surrender at the feet of Kipchoge. There were other times and many other marathoners: Bikila, Zatopek, Lopes … Kipchoge is the reincarnation of all of them.
How has Spain been? At a great level. Ana Peleteiro is our queen. He believed it, he made the leap of his life, he won the bronze, and that was in a very expensive final. In fact, Yilimar Rojas, gold, broke the world record. As for the boys, I’m not going to opt for one, but for a discipline: walking. How close Álvaro Martín, María Pérez and Marc Tur, fourth, have been to getting a medal. And although it seems to us that the fourth place (3 centimeters from the medal) achieved by Eusebio Cáceres is bittersweet, I’ll stick with his words: “I gave everything and they beat me because they were better.” Bravo! Very competitive Asier Martínez on the high fences, sixth.
And what about the fifth place of Adríán Ben, first Spanish finalist of the 800 in some Games. Adel Mechaal was fifth but he was fantastic. Marathon runner Ayad Lamdassem roamed the streets of Sapporo in search of a medal, fought unspeakably, and was ultimately rewarded with a fifth and an Olympic diploma. Masterly! Katir made me dream of one of the three medals. He deserved better luck than an eighth place. A bronze and eleven finalists is a great baggage. It can be said that Spanish athletics breathes with airs of a very promising future in Paris 2024. Congratulations.
Special mention for Bragado, 51 years old and eight Games, and for Alisson Felix, 10 medals. To the marathoners, for their effort and for getting out of Sapporo alive. To the organizing committee for their bravery. Without an audience, yes. But you have made us experience the Olympic Games.
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