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TOKYO – Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas added an Olympic gold to World Championships gold he won in 2019, moving away from the field with 50 meters to go and winning in 43.85 seconds.
Colombian Anthony Jose Zambrano took silver in 44.08 seconds and Grenadin Kirani James bronze (44.19), becoming the first man to win three Olympic medals in the 400m.
Gardiner seemed to come out a bit slowly for the first 100 yards and then turned things up. Bahamas could have the men’s and women’s 400m winner – Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Rio’s reigning gold medalist, is one of the top contenders in her race again this year.
American Michael Norman got off to a very quick start and was in the lead with around 150 meters to go. But he failed to hold on and finished fifth (44.31). His teammate Michael Cherry was fourth in a lifetime best time clocking 44.21.
This marks the first time in Olympic history American men haven’t won a single gold in the short sprints (100, 200, 400) and hurdles, according to NBC Sports’ Nick Zaccardi.
Norman ran 44.07 seconds in the US practice, but his 44.52 in the semifinal here was only the fifth fastest time. Norman’s mother was born in Japan and he had explained what it meant for his first Olympics to be held in his homeland.
James, the pride of Grenada who won Olympic gold in 2012, has been consistent for a decade and reached the final with the fastest time in the semi-finals. This is his third consecutive Olympic Games with a medal.
South African Wayde Van Niekerk, who broke the world record in the 2016 Olympics final, did not qualify for the medal race in Tokyo. Playing in a rugby match with celebrities in 2017, Van Niekirk tore his ACL and hasn’t regained form since.
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