Ivory Coast Marie-Josée Ta Lou finished again in fourth place in the 100 meters at the Olympic Games, on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, five years after finishing at the foot of the podium over this distance and over 200 meters at the Rio Games. Jamaicans Elaine Thompson-Herah (1st), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (2nd) and Shericka Jackson (3rd) dominated this final.
From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
Another 4th place for Marie-Josée Ta Lou at the Olympics … Five years after finishing at the foot of the podium in the 100 and 200 meters in Rio, the Ivorian finished in the same place in the 100 final in Tokyo. This time, the pocket sprinter approached this race almost in favorite position, after her fantastic lap times in the heat (10 seconds 78, African record equal) and in the semifinals (10.79).
But on the track to the Olympic Stadium, the triple medalist at Worlds was much less efficient, with a time of 10.91. After a slow start, she seemed to struggle. She was quickly left behind by the trio of Jamaicans, Elaine Thompson-Herah (1st, 10.61, Olympic record), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (2nd, 10.74) and Shericka Jackson (3rd, 10.76). An Elaine Thompson-Herah who therefore retains her Olympic title.
The scenario really has nothing to do with 2016, where Marie-Josée Ta Lou was beaten by 7 thousandths of a second by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce for the bronze medal. Even with his best time, the Ivorian had not finished on the podium.
However, she remained for long minutes proclaimed on the track. Invited to decipher his race by RFI, the African champion seemed paralyzed with disappointment, invoked a health problem and then broke down in tears.
He still has 200 meters to achieve his dream: to win a medal at the Olympics. The series begins on July 2 …
►Tokyo 2021: Event calendar, results, medal table
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