Gold medallist salutes ‘the Australian guy’ as Peter Bol captures hearts in Tokyo

Peter Bol showed incredible guts as he tried to make history but fell just short of what would have been a historic medal for Australia.

Australia was cheering on Peter Bol. (Photo by Ina Fassbender / AFP)

Peter Bol just missed out on a coveted Olympic medal, finishing fourth in the men’s 800m final in Tokyo.

A promising start saw him join the front of the pack after 200m and by the halfway mark he was the outright leader.

Bol stayed ahead until the final bend but was overtaken on the home straight with about 60m to go.

He showed tremendous heart and courage to finish one spot off the podium, leaving nothing in the tank.

“I put myself in with every chance. The only thing I regret is the last 100m tightening up a little bit,” Bol told Channel 7.

“Other than that, I came here to win. That’s what I did, I tried to win. We came short, but there is more to come.

“I’d be lying if I said I’m pretty happy right now. The goal was to win, still have to reflect on that. At the same time, I think today, I didn’t know if I was going to win, but I knew one thing for certain that the whole of Australia was watching. That carried me on. I loved that part.

“I’m grateful to Australia, I’m thankful to everyone in Australia. We’re human at the end of the day. We inspired the whole nation. That’s the goal.”

Bol won penty of admirers. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Seven commentator Bruce McAvaney was full of admiration for Bol.

“For a fleeting moment on the turn, I thought Peter might be able to hold on to a medal. He has run magnificently,” McAvaney said. We are all so proud of him.

“There was a maturity beyond his experience, not beyond his years but beyond his experience.

“The fairytale didn’t quite happen, but boy oh boy it was a beautiful read for just about the whole of the journey.

“This is the bit I love just as much. He can’t win the medal, but he wants to finish fourth. He wants to get the highest placing possible. That’s the pride of a champion. We saw one tonight.”

Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir, who won gold, pouncing round the bend into the home straight, even credited Bol for setting up the race.

“I didn’t have any strategy,” said Korir. “I just thought I would try and follow and see what would happen.

“There was nobody who wanted to take the pace, so I just said I was going to control it. The Australian guy, he did something good for me.”

The rest of Australia was singing Bol’s praises after another gutsy effort.

“Peter Bol is the most important story of the Games for Australia,” longtime Olympics writer Phil Lutton said. “What he represents, where he has come from, and where he is going is of immense cultural significance.”

Peter Bol,
Take a bow. Bold race, forced into the pace setter. Held on so bloody long!! Brilliant 4th place. #Tokyo2020

— Kurt Fearnley (@kurtfearnley) August 4, 2021

Wow, Peter Bol - no shame in coming 4th, you’ve represented! 🙏🏿👏🏾👏🏾

— Francis Awaritefe (@FrancisAwartefe) August 4, 2021

We’ve had a few fourths at this Olympics but think Peter Bol is the pick of them. Had every hope and ran a terrific race. Bring on Paris!! #Olympics#Tokyo2020#AUS

— Andrew Hawkins 🇦🇺💛💚 (@AndrewNJHawkins) August 4, 2021

What a run! Heart in mouth stuff.
So proud of Peter Bol 🙌🏻🙌🏻 #OlympicGames

— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) August 4, 2021

That’s another full send of a run from Peter Bol. Put it all out there running on the front of a pack like that. What an absolute legend. #Olympics#Tokyo2020#Athletics

— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) August 4, 2021

Bol was attempting to become the first Australian man in 50 years to win an Olympic track gold medal in Wednesday night’s final.

The 27-year-old from Melbourne became the first Aussie to qualify for the final in the two-lap event since 1968 and carried the hopes of a nation into the race.

The Sudanese-born runner was in sensational form in Tokyo, breaking the Oceania record in his heat and again while winning his semi-final.

After leading the pack for the whole race in his semi, he crossed the line in 1:44.11, making him the second-fastest qualifier for the final.

The incredible performance had McAvaney dreaming big as he said Bol “can win the gold medal”.

Sadly, it wasn’t to be, but Bol can leave with his head held high.

Bol was in fine form in Tokyo (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images).