Lamont Marcell Jacobs Jr. secured his place in track history during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he became the first Italian to qualify for and win the men's 100 metres final. Clocking 9.80 seconds, he surpassed established international favorites to claim the gold medal and set a new European record in the process.
Early Development and Athletics Transition
Born in 1994 in El Paso, Texas, to an Italian mother and an African American serviceman, Jacobs relocated to Desenzano del Garda, Italy, at three weeks old. His initial sporting background included football and basketball, but his speed on the pitch led coach Adriano Bertazzi to encourage an athletics career. He began competing at ten, initially focusing on sprinting before shifting his primary technical interest to the long jump in 2011.
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Jacobs won the Italian Athletics Championships in long jump in 2016, though persistent injuries hampered his consistency in the field. He achieved a notable jump of 8.48 meters at the 2016 Italian U23 Championships, which went unratified as a national record due to wind assistance. By 2019, he opted to abandon the long jump entirely to focus exclusively on sprinting. This pivot proved effective; in May 2021, he broke the 10-second barrier in Savona with a time of 9.95 seconds.
Dominance in Tokyo and Subsequent Indoor Success
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Jacobs defeated competitors including Fred Kerley and Andre De Grasse. Beyond his individual gold, he helped the Italian 4 × 100 metres relay team, featuring Lorenzo Patta, Fausto Desalu, and Filippo Tortu, secure a historic win. Following his Olympic success, he continued to excel in shorter distances, winning the 60 metres title at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade with a European record time of 6.41 seconds.
Fast facts
- Born: 1994, El Paso
- Citizenship: Italy
- 2020 Olympic 100m gold medalist
- 2022 60m world champion
- European 100m record holder
- Award: Gold Collar for Sports Merit
Questions readers ask
Was Marcell Jacobs always a sprinter?
No, he initially focused on the long jump and won the Italian Athletics Championships in that event in 2016 before switching permanently to sprinting in 2019.
Did Italy win other relays with Jacobs?
Yes, he was a member of the gold medal-winning 4 × 100 m relay team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Achievements
- Represented Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Oro
- Competed at athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – men's 100 metres, athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – men's 4 × 100 metres relay and 2021 World Athletics Relays
- Discipline: athletics
