Gardiner adds Olympic gold to World title
Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas added 400m Olympic gold to his 2019 World Championship success in a comfortable victory at Tokyo 2020. The 25-year-old ran a season best time of 43.85 to finish ahead of Colombia’s Anthony Jose Zambrano and London 2012 winner Kirani James. With his upright running style, Gardiner raced clear on the final straight and even looked to ease up near the finish line to become Olympic champion. Handed his country’s flag after winning the race, Gardiner’s celebrations were subdued as he looked shattered and took in his achievement. His victory never seriously looked in doubt, as the rest of the field around him tired.
“It feels amazing. My first Olympic Games didn’t go well for me (failing to make the final at Rio 2016) but this one here, I’m cherishing this moment. Olympic champion,” Gardiner said.
“When the gun went off I stumbled a bit coming out, but I recovered, I kept it moving, and with 200m to go, I started to push a little bit. And 100m to go, I gave it all I’ve got.
“I came across the line and saw my name on the big screen and I was in first place. I’m just happy.”
James was heading for silver with 40m to go but he tightened up badly as Zambrano raced past him. “Considering what I’ve been through the past three years, my illness, in 2019 I lost my mum so I spent a lot of time at home not training, so by the time I got to World Championships I was not in peak shape, COVID, last year and this year,” said James, who went into the race as the second fastest this year. “It’s been a roller-coaster, but I’m happy to be back on the podium, it’s a blessing. I’m happy with the bronze, even though we were aiming higher.” Meanwhile, India’s Ravi Kumar Dahiya was bitten by his opponent in bizarre scenes in the semi-final of the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling competition at Tokyo 2020.
Cameras spotted Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev sinking his teeth in the arm of Dahiya and leaving a visibly painful mark on the Indian wrestler. Dahiya upset the two-time world wrestling champion in the semi-final with the underdog coming out on top in the thrilling encounter.
But the match will be remembered for the shocking moment when Sanayev bit his opponent. Dahiya had overturned a 9-2 deficit and had Sanayev pinned to the mat. It was then that Sanayev sunk his teeth into Dahiya’s bicep, leaving a nasty mark, but it was not enough to force the Indian wrestler to release his takedown.
With pictures showing the extent of the injury, Dahiya was given an ice pack for the bite and went on to compete in the final – which he narrowly lost to Russia’s Zaur Uguev.
Speaking after the match, Dahiya admitted he was frustrated with his performance against Sanayev, but made no mention of the biting incident. “I had no business conceding that much lead against Sanayev. I am not happy with it,” Dahiya told Press Trust of India.
“I still have some unfinished business to do. I came with a target here and that is not complete yet.” It is not the first time at these Games that opponents have been guilty of biting. Morocco’s Youness Baalla tried to latch onto New Zealand’s David Nyika ear during their boxing clash