Angelo Taylor of the USA takes a surprise 400m hurdles victory in a time of 47.25 (© Getty Images)
After three days of competition at the Olympic stadium in Beijing, the United States of America had yet to secure their first Athletics gold medal of the Games. While the women’s Discus Throw gold came as a big surprise, they were confident, as the fourth evening session unfolded, the biggest prize of all would not elude them in the men’s 400m Hurdles.
More, they were aiming for a sweep of the medals. With Bershawn Jackson the 2005 World champion, Kerron Clement the 2007 World title holder and Angelo Taylor the 2000 Olympic champion in the start list for the final, how could one blame them for their optimism.
Still the outcome came as a surprise, as it was Taylor, the less fancied of the trio, who led from start to finish to clock a new personal best 47.25 and win gold 8 years after winning the Sydney Olympic Games from lane one.
"It means the world to me (to win another gold medal). I think I could have run faster though. I went out like I wanted to. It's a personal best. I haven't run fast since 2001. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
“I'm a really blessed individual. To go through what I went through and be back on top means the world to me."
“It's such a great feeling. I was the Olympic champion in 2000. Coming back in 2004 I wanted to defend my title but I didn't make the final. I was a little disappointed then but at the same time I made the team injured. I had stress fractures in both shins.”
Taylor becomes the third American to win two Olympic titles at the event after Glenn Davis’ back to back titles in 1956 and 1960 and Edwin Moses’ gold medals in 1976 and 1984.
Third at the US Olympic Trials, Taylor had made it clear from the start. He wanted gold, nothing less. Running in lane 6, he blasted out of the blocks and soon made the stagger up on American champion Jackson who was running on the lane to his right.
While Jackson seemed to be out of the picture, Clement started making his move coming into the final bend and by the eighth hurdle he was level with Taylor. Running stride for stride, there was still very little between Clement and Taylor at the penultimate obstacle. But as in many other occasions, Clement stuttered leading up to the final barrier, a mistake which cost him the gold.
Alone up front Taylor took his time to celebrate and savour the sweet taste of victory.
Meanwhile Jackson moved closer to finish in third in 48.06, eighth hundredths of a second behind Clement to complete the pre-planned one-two-three, the first sweep of the medals at the athletics events here in Beijing.
"We are the best three hurdlers in the world,” said an elated Clement. “We proved that today. I'm really happy with my silver medal. All season, we've been very consistent. I was focusing on myself and the hurdles and going 1-2-3.”
In contrast Jackson sounded a little less satisfied: "I was fourth at the last hurdle. Came up third and I thought I had second. I was pushing it. I'm happy with third. I wanted it so bad but I kept making errors. I kept crashing hurdles. I think it was three or four. All three of us know what it takes to win."
Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane of Jamaica had to be content with fourth despite a season’s best 48.30.
Amazingly Taylor’s was the sixteenth Olympic 400m Hurdles title for the Americans who also recorded their fourth ever sweep of the medals at the event.
Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF