Hansle Parchment managed to pull off the biggest upset in the Tokyo Olympics, at least for fans of Team USA. The Jamaican ran and kept running to glory as he edged past Grant Holloway to win gold in the 110m hurdles race, shocking the world.?
Grant Holloway was undoubtedly the clear favorite in this race, having never lost the race over the last two years. The American was in pole position to win gold and had even beaten Parchment in the heats. However, a minor lapse on his part over the final hurdle saw Jamaica win the honors.?
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On returning home to Tokyo, Hansle Parchment headed a motorcade to parade through the streets of his hometown in Springfield, St Thomas, and was given a hero’s welcome by those present. Fans immediately huddled around his car to greet the new local superstar.
Residents of Springfield in St Thomas lit up in excitement this morning as their hurdles hero Hansle Parchment led a motorcade through the parish. The St Thomas native returned to Jamaica yesterday following his gold medal run in the men's 110m hurdles in Japan. – Kenyon Hemans pic.twitter.com/cRvff4Lz8n
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) August 9, 2021
Parchment clocked 13.04 seconds, a season?s best performance, to beat the American, who managed an impressive 13.09. Holloway took the early lead in the race and seemed clear, but a sudden acceleration from Parchment accompanied by an unusual lapse on the last hurdle from Holloway decided the fate of the race.?
Ronald Levy, also Jamaican, came third with 13.10 seconds, beating USA?s Devon Allen narrowly. After the race, Holloway did not show any signs of anger and congratulated Parchment on his success. The hurdler is eager to return at Paris 2024 with more experience on his side and an eye for gold.
Hansle Parchment’s win was not the only upset at the Tokyo Olympics
Hansle Parchment?s win was not the only big upset in Tokyo. Italy?s Lamont Marcell Jacobs shocked the world in the 100m sprint to win the gold medal. The runner was not in the discussion for the podium spot but hit the afterburners in the final to beat USA?s Fred Kerley and Canada?s Andre De Grasse to gold.
The Italian team also managed to win the 4x100m hurdles race, winning the Azzurri?s the final gold of a historic Olympic campaign. Team Italy medalled in only 5 events, all of which were golds. It truly was Gold or nothing for the men in blue as they triumphantly returned home.?
