Grant Holloway's Teammate Injured

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👋 Hey Team USA Fans!

Missed us? Well, we are back with the latest huffs and puffs from the Track and Field world. Starting with 110m hurdles where Grant Holloway’s teammate was injured by Spaniard, Enrique Llopis. Yet ran to the podium for his first Olympic medal ever. Moving forward, you will learn that despite carding gold in 100m, compatriot Fred Kerley doesn't deem Noah Lyles the fastest sprinter. Furthermore, his arch-rival, Letsile Tebogo had also fired a few shots at his bold demeanor. 

On the women’s side, Sydney McLaughlin Levrone has clinched another gold at 400m at the Stade de France arena. But that was not the only thing she eyed before making the run. There was more to break in the French capital than just reaching the podium for McLaughlin and making history in women’s sprinting record books might be a huge part of it. So let’s unravel all these stories in today’s edition! 

🥇MEDAL COUNT

America shines on top!

🙌 HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Grant Holloway's Teammate Injured

It was a night of redemption for Daniel Roberts at the Stade de France. However, before turning up at the podium, things got a little bloody on the purple tracks, quite literally. Roberts was geared at the second lane as he neighbored the Spanish sprinter Enrique LIpois. The 26-year-old was aiming for the gold after a disappointing finish at the 2021 Tokyo Games. He beelined for it and led as they reached the first hurdle. However, LIpois’s spikes made contact with Roberts's arm when they leaped over and left a long scratch. The injury slowed the phenom by a few seconds as he fell second to his compatriot. Yet Roberts persevered and did not want to be out of the podium, just as he had been three years ago.

When Grant Holloway finished at 12.99, claiming his first gold medal, Roberts clocked in at 13.09 to get the silver, his maiden Olympic medal. Despite the challenges in the race, the Hampton native was ready to face them all. Thus, even with the injury, Roberts said, “No matter what it took, I was going to get me a medal.” Although it was a silver, Roberts and Holloway dominated at Stade de France and brought back glory to the American tracks. 

Dive Deeper: Blood Over American Flag, Grant Holloway’s Teammate Falls Victim to Spanish Athlete’s Horrible Paris Olympics Mistake

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

🌟 ES EXCLUSIVE

Fred Kerley Reignites Heated Debate

After winning the gold at the 100m race, Noah Lyles claimed the “fastest man on the earth” title, but did he? According to his counterpart and compatriot Fred Kerley, he was still not the fastest in the world. Yes, Lyles clocked in 9.79 for the gold and the 2-time Olympic medalist flourished with Bronze after 9.81 seconds. Still, Kerley believed that was just one such day of Lyles surpassing him. In an exclusive chat with EssentiallySports, the Texas native shared his thoughts on the Kerley vs Lyles ‘fastest man’ debate.

Kerley replied, “I believe on any given day I’m the fastest man, but he was the fastest man on that day, so more props to him.” In the end, even with the budding rivalry between the two, Kerley and Lyles defeated the Jamaican dominance as they fought for individual accolades.

Dive Deeper: Fred Kerley’s Denial Sparks Noah Lyles ‘World’s Fastest Man’ Debate Once Again as Track Star Gives Honest Take (Exclusive)

😎 HERO OF THE DAY

Gold Wasn't Enough For Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has reigned supreme on the purple tracks once again! The hurdler blazed to a dazzling victory after clocking 50.37 at the 400m hurdles and defended her Tokyo Olympics gold. In the history of women's 400m hurdles, McLaughlin became the only woman to win gold in the back-to-back Olympics, and that too near the 50-second mark. Hence, the crown McLaughlin put on her head right after winning the race looked apt, but it was not the only goal that the Olympian wanted to achieve. She wanted to break her previous world record, and she did exactly that!

Just last month, the 25-year-old made a record after clocking 50.65 in the U.S. Olympic Trials, which was evidently shattered in the French capital. But accomplishing that wasn’t as troublesome for McLaughlin as it was at the 2022 World Championship. Then the 400m hurdles star clocked a sub-51 WR with 50.68 seconds finish, becoming only the second woman to do so. Thus, when she was asked about the Paris Olympics win, McLaughlin said, “The one from 2 years ago hurt a lot more. Breaking that threshold was always the hardest part…They all hurt, to be honest.” From the outside, the victory might look like a mere seconds of work, but McLaughlin and other athletes put in arduous efforts for the gold. But in the end, becoming the trailblazer makes it worth it all! 

Dive Deeper: “Hurt a Lot More”: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Reveals Her Biggest Setback After Paris Olympics Gold

Letsile Tebogo Takes Shots At Noah Lyles

The purple tracks at Stade de France fired up when Letsile Tebogo, 200m gold medalist, took a subtle dig at the 100m champion, Noah Lyles! The Botswana sprinter cruised to the 200m gold medal in 19.46 seconds, adding first in his Olympic vault. Whereas, despite battling COVID-19, Noah Lyles finished third for a bronze. After Tebogo’s blazing victory in the 200m, he was asked if he could be the face of the sprinting world. And he, while denying the offer, took a potshot at Lyles, who announced he won't continue in the 2024 Paris Olympics after his COVID diagnosis.

The Paris Olympics gold medalist stated, “I think for me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or a loud person like Noah. So, I believe Noah is the face of athletics,” claiming the title is best left for the Florida native.

As ambiguous as it it sounds, there doesn’t seem to be bad blood between the two as Lyles even congratulated Tebogo on Instagram and X demonstrating healthy sportsmanship behavior!

Dive Deeper: “Not An Arrogant Person Like Noah Lyles”: Letsile Tebogo Stirs Fresh Controversy After 200M Gold At Paris Olympics

📝 STORIES YOU SHOULDN’T MISS!

1. Overcoming Strained Relationship, Kenny Bednarek’s Mother Breaks Down Watching Paris Olympics Medal: “I’m So Lucky”- Full Story

2. Victim Of Poverty, Letsile Tebogo’s Worrying Request Before Paris Olympics Gold Unearthed- Full Story

3. Noah Lyles’ Sickening Move Putting Letsile Tebogo & Co’s Health at Risk Finally Exposed to Media- Full Story

4. “Don’t Care”: Kenny Bednarek Silences Noah Lyles & Co. With Bold Statement At Paris Olympics- Full Story

Paris Olympics Live: Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Swimming, Athletics and More Team USA Updates

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