Gardiner wins men’s 400m gold

Steven Gardiner from Bahamas powered to gold in the Olympic 400 metres final on Thursday to maintain his four-year unbeaten streak.

The 25-year-old 2019 world champion stormed to the line in 43.85sec, with Colombia’s Anthony Jose Zambrano taking silver in 44.08sec. Grenada’s Kirani James, the 2012 champion and 2016 silver medallist, took bronze in 44.19sec

The Bahamian hasn’t lost a 400m race that he has completed since taking a silver medal behind South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk at the 2017 World Championships.

Leaving aside three races where he did not finish due to injury, Gardiner has been unbeaten in 20 of 23 starts since that 2017 loss.

Gardiner’s victory raises the prospect of an Olympic double for Bahamas at the 400m in Tokyo with 2016 gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo running in the women’s final on Friday.

Gardiner’s gold medal was never really in doubt as he waited patiently before surging smoothly into the lead off the final bend. Once in front there was only going to be one winner and Gardiner motored home in his fastest time of 2021.

Parchment wins men’s hurdles gold

Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment trumped fading world champion Grant Holloway to win the men’s Olympic 110m hurdles gold on Thursday.

Parchment, a bronze medallist at the 2012 London Games, clocked 13.04 seconds, with Holloway taking silver in 13.09sec. Another Jamaican, Ronald Levy, claimed bronze (13.10).

“The greatest feeling,” Parchment said when asked what being referred to as the Olympic champion sounded like.

“I’ve worked so hard. My coach reminded me to run through the line, and that’s what I did. I don’t think a lot of people expected me to win,” he said.

“I might have to sit for a bit and just absorb the moment, watch other races because there’s always room for improvement.”