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Marion, Maurice fastest earthlings
American sprint sensation Marion Jones won her first ever Olympic gold with a shattering display at Sydney in the women`s 100 metres on a chilly evening. World record holder Maurice Greene also lived up to his promise when he powered across the line to take the olympic 100 metre gold at Sydney today.
At the same time, despite the chilly conditions, Greene, the brash American who never doubted that the blue riband title was always going to be his, came home in 9.87 seconds to head off Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago and Obadele Thompson of Barbados.
Marion Jones, going for a record busting five track and field titles here, broke into a huge smile as she swept across the line to the roars of the 100,000 strong crowd packed into the Stadium Australia.
Seconds later her smile turned to tears of joy as she hugged friends in the crowd. It was a brilliant Olympic debut for the former basketball star who turned down a chance to compete in the us 4x100 relay team at the Barcelona games in 1992, claiming she was not ready.
Jones has not lost a 100m race since 1997 and she never looked like losing her record here as she ran her fastest 100m of the year. So confident was Jones that she blew a kiss to the crowd during the pre-race introductions.
But her concentration was fully tested. Just before the starters gun was about to fire Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas raised her hand to delay the start. Then Thanou had a false start. The race got underway at the third attempt.
For veteran Merlene Ottey, making her sixth and final appearance in an Olympics, there was to be no final glory.
The 40-year-old had caused a storm amongst her Jamaican teammates when she was selected for the Olympic team. Ottey finished fourth in the trials but was given a place anyway.
Her countryman, Greene, had to overcome a sluggish start, but his strength
told over the final 20 metres and neither Boldon nor Thompson
were close enough to threaten. Boldon clocked 9.99 and
Thompson 10.04.
Greene`s victory makes him only the third sprinter to
hold the Olympic title, the world championship and the world
record at the same time - only Carl Lewis and Donovan Bailey
had previously managed the triple.
Greene`s success spelt heartache for Boldon who is still
trying to get out of the shadow of his training partner.
The Commonwealth games champion took bronze in Atlanta
but remained convinced that he deserved more. But despite a
blistering performance in the first round of the heats he
again failed to deliver the killer blow when it mattered and
had to settle for silver.
The two sprinters hugged seconds after the race before
Greene broke away, tore off his shoes, and threw them into
the 100,000 strong crowd packed into the Stadium Australia.
For the 24-year-old Thompson, it was a dream come true.
His best previous showing has been fourth in the World
Championships in Seville last year.
Bureau Report