World stunned by America’s fastest man’s Olympic slip-up

Athletics fans could barely believe their eyes as America’s fastest man slipped up in his heats of the 100m, leading to a very nervous wait.

Trayvon Bromell was stunned in Tokyo. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

America’s fastest man Trayvon Bromell escaped a major scare after just sneaking into the semi-finals of the men’s 100m.

Bromell, who qualified fastest at US Olympic Trials, was slow out of the blocks and registered a time of 10.05 seconds, finishing his heat in fourth spot.

The top three finishers of each of the seven heats automatically progress to the semi-finals, while the next three best times are also allowed through. Given Bromell finished fourth in his race, he faced a nervous wait to see if his time cut the mustard.

He could breathe a sigh of relief when he was among the three-best times of those who finished outside the top three in their heats, meaning his dream of an Olympic gold medal remains alive.

Failing to progress beyond the heats would have been a huge shock for Bromell, who has run the fastest 100m time this year of 9.77s.

Nigeria’s Enoch Adegoke set a new personal best, surging to the line in 9.98s as he won Bromell’s heat — the second of the night at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium.

Before the event former Australian sprinter Matt Shirvington tipped Bromell and countryman Ronnie Baker to be in the mix for a podium. Baker, who qualified second quickest at US trials, won the opening heat of the night in a time of 10.03s.

There was a stunned reaction after Bromell’s surprisingly sluggish time.

Trayvon Bromell, the seventh fastest man of all time, in trouble! He started his heat poorly and was outdipped for third position. Wow! #Athletics

— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) July 31, 2021

OH WOW....Travon Bromell WHAT WAS THAT?? 😱He's the World #1 with 9.77?!? 🤯
He did NOT get out AT ALL!?! 😲 He's a GREAT starter usually. This is a BIG shock!!! 😳 #Athletics#olympics

— Jade Johnson OLY (@JadeLJohnson7) July 31, 2021

Bromell.

10:05

Shocking fourth place finish in the second heat. In jeopardy of not making semifinal. #Tokyo2020

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 31, 2021

Bromell was disappointed with his time.

Meanwhile, Australian Rohan Browning qualified for the semi-finals and set a new personal best of 10.01 seconds as he became the first Australian in 23 years to compete in the blue riband event at a Games.

Browning became just the second Aussie after Patrick Johnson to break the 10-second barrier, albeit wind assisted (so it doesn’t count as a legal time), in January this year. Then in April he clocked a time of 10.05 seconds at the Queensland Track Classic to qualify for the Australian team.

Shirvington, who made the semi-finals of the 2000 Olympics, said before Browning’s heat he believes the young gun has a genuine shot at making the final.

“I honestly think he’s more than capable of making the final at these Games,” Shirvington, who is hosting part of Channel 7’s Olympic coverage, told news.com.au. “We haven’t had a finalist since 1956 so that in itself would be a phenomenal thing for Australia.

“The reason I think he can do it is because he’s been running consistently around 10.0. This year alone he’s run 10.05, 10.08, 10.09 and I was looking back at London and Rio and to make the final, qualifying times were around 10.01, 10.02.”

Rohan Browning was in blistering form in the lead-up to Tokyo. Mark Button Photography.