WHY WAS MARCELL JACOBS' 100M OLYMPIC WIN CONTROVERSIAL? REMARKS HIT GOLD MEDALIST HARD

Reigning Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs has faced plenty of criticism since winning his gold medal in Tokyo.

The Italian had been viewed as a rank outsider but shocked the world in the 100m final. His time of 9.8 seconds set a European record, coming only a few months after Jacobs had first succeeded in breaking the 10-second barrier. Jacob also helped Italy win gold in the 4x100m relay.

The former long jumper's phenomenal feat was almost immediately overshadowed, though, due to the sprinter's earlier association with nutritionist Giacomo Spazzini, who was involved in a steroid trial in Italy. Jacobs cut ties with Spazzini before the Olympics after learning about the case and has not had contact with him since. Meanwhile, Spazzini was also cleared of criminal charges; receiving a 15-year doping ban, which was later rescinded.

Despite never being involved in the police investigation or accused of any wrongdoing, Jacobs received backlash due to his former ties with Spazzini. Following the Olympics, the 29-year-old took time away from the track and raced intermittently as he struggled to deal with a back issue, which only further fuelled the anger aimed at him.

"People's criticism really hit me hard," he told The Guardian. "It came from everywhere – from Italy and abroad. As if I wasn't competing because I was afraid. I've never been afraid of anything in my life.

"I wasn't competing because I wasn't able to. It was a difficult time because you train to get results and not getting them was hard. The two post-Olympic years were difficult years. I really needed something that would spark me."

Reflecting on his relationship with Spazzini, Jacobs added: "I don't think all the ugliness that came after the Olympics came from [his association with Spazzini] specifically. I think there was a lot of shock and discomfort with an Italian winning 100m gold.

"With hindsight, I wish I'd known about his issues before. But I didn't. I wasn't aware so there's nothing much I can do about that. If I could go back, obviously I would have done things differently if I'd known. But I didn't. You can't change the past."

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Marcell Jacobs retain his 100m gold at the Paris Olympics? Tell us in the comments section below

Subsequently, Jacobs opted to leave Italy to work with his new coach Rana Reider in Florida. Given his relatively low profile since winning Olympic gold, Jacobs has avoided the level of fame a 100m champion would normally command, while moving to the US has allowed him to train with several of his Olympic rivals, including Andre De Grasse.

Having failed to reach the final in back-to-back World Championships, Jacobs looks to have rediscovered his rhythm, winning both the 100m and 4x100m at the recent European Championships in June. Hometown glory in Rome would have been a moment to savour - but silencing his critics is not Jacobs' main motivation as he aims to become a double Olympic champion.

"Winning a second gold wouldn't make that much of a change to me and my image," Jacobs said. "Of course, it would be positive, but coming from a country where no one before me had won an Olympic gold medal in the 100m, what I did was historic and it will always be historic.

"Over the years I've learned that I have to focus on what I want and what I believe I can do. Not to show others, but to show myself. A lot of things have happened in the two and a half years since I won gold, so I need to show myself what I can do."

Follow The Mirror Sport's live coverage of the 2024 Olympics with our live blog

2024-08-04T04:45:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd