Quincy Hall became the fourth-fastest 400m runner in history on Wednesday when he won Olympic gold in 43.40 seconds, ending a 16-year drought for the US and saying it was “grit” that got him over the line.
The 26-year-old stormed to the line to beat Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, who set a new European record of 43.44s, and Zambia’s Muzala Samukong for bronze in 43.74s.
For the first time ever, five athletes went under 44 seconds in the same race.
Hall is the first American to win a one-lap event at the Olympics since LaShawn Merritt in Beijing in 2008.
“I’m not giving up, man,” Hall said. “I just got the sand. I’ve been grinding. I’ve got determination.” I think about all the pain, all the pain.”
Hall, who said he thought of his two daughters when he crossed the border, said the sand came from the conditions he studied in as a young man.
“When you don’t have food, you have to get your own food. No cafeteria, no study, none of that.”
“It means a lot,” said Hall, who was only bronze at last year’s world championships.
As in last year’s world finals in Budapest, Hudson-Smith got away when it was his turn and once again had to settle for silver.
The 29-year-old burst into tears as he walked past the track and saw his parents, who he didn’t know had traveled from Britain to watch him.
“He did exactly that. Can’t complain. Fifth fastest time overall.”
“I can’t complain. I knew the last 50 would decide who would win and he stepped on me right before the line.
Hudson-Smith, who made a remarkable comeback from the depths of despair three years ago when he considered taking his own life, predicted he and Hall would be set for some big clashes in the coming years.
“This will be the beginning of many battles,” said the Briton.
Samukonga, who denied Hudson-Smith a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold, also produced a storming finish to become only Zambia’s third Olympic medalist and first since Samuel Matete’s silver in the men’s 400m hurdles in 1996.
“It’s crazy,” the 21-year-old said.
“It means a lot to me. It’s not an easy thing to compete in the Olympics for the first time.”
“Then when I find myself in a medal position, it’s not an easy thing. I’m proud of myself.”
2012 Olympic champion Kirani James looked in great form in the laps but in the final the 31-year-old’s legs gave out as he entered the straight and he finished fifth in 43.87 seconds.
James said he never thought he would see the race to rival the 2016 finals in Rio, when he took silver as Wayde van Niekerk won in a world record time of 43.03 seconds.
“I thought I would never see anything like this again. I was proven wrong,” said the man from Grenada.
James, whose career was nearly ended by the autoimmune disorder Graves’ disease, said he had yet to run his last race.
Asked if he would challenge to regain the title in Los Angeles in 2028, he said: “That’s the plan.”
