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Eseosa DesaluItalian track and field athlete
Date of Birth: 19.02.1994
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Junior Career
- Senior Career
- International Breakthrough
- Olympic Success
- Personal Bests
Early Life and Career
Lamont Marcell Jacobs, an Italian sprinter, was born in El Paso, Texas, on 26 September 1994, to an American father and an Italian mother. In 2004, the family moved to Italy, where Jacobs discovered his passion for track and field.
Junior Career
Jacobs began his athletics career at the age of 10, competing in long jump and sprinting. He quickly showed promise, winning the Italian youth championships in the 100 meters in 2010. In 2012, he finished fifth in the 100 meters at the World Junior Championships, establishing himself as one of the most talented young sprinters in the world.
Senior Career
Jacobs made his senior debut at the 2015 European Athletics Indoor Championships, where he finished fourth in the 60 meters. He continued to improve throughout the season, setting a personal best of 10.18 seconds in the 100 meters. In 2016, he won the Italian national championship in the 100 meters and was part of the Italian team that won the silver medal in the 4 × 100 meters relay at the European Athletics Championships.
International Breakthrough
Jacobs' breakthrough came at the 2017 European Indoor Championships, where he won the silver medal in the 60 meters. He followed this up with a fourth-place finish in the 100 meters at the World Championships later that year. In 2018, he won the gold medal in the 100 meters at the Mediterranean Games and set a personal best of 20.13 seconds in the 200 meters.
Olympic Success
Jacobs' crowning achievement came at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he won the gold medal in the 100 meters. He became the first Italian to win the Olympic 100 meters title since 1948. He also anchored the Italian team to victory in the 4 × 100 meters relay, setting a new European record.
Personal Bests
60 meters: 6.47 seconds100 meters: 9.80 seconds (European record)
200 meters: 20.13 seconds
110 meters hurdles: 14.20 seconds
60 meters hurdles: 7.86 seconds
