SAINT-DENIS, France — Quincy Hall emerged as the newest American sensation in Olympic track and field with a stunning comeback on Wednesday night. He sprinted from a significant deficit in the 400 meters to overtake three competitors and secure the gold medal.
Hall, buried in fourth place as the runners rounded the last bend, outran the runner on his outside, then two more to the inside to cross the line in 43.40 seconds, the fourth-fastest time ever, then dropped to the track to do snow angels to celebrate.
“I’ve got determination,” Hall said. “That’s what got me to that line. A lot of hurt a lot of pain. “Hall beat Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith by .04 seconds — that’s now the fifth-fastest time in history — and Muzala Samukonga of Zambia finished third for bronze.
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Hall has become the first American to win gold in the one-lap race since LaShawn Merritt in 2008. This triumph followed Cole Hocker’s remarkable comeback to clinch the men’s 1,500 meters, surpassing the favorites in the final moments.
He was 5 meters behind Hudson-Smith and 2012 champion Kirani James, both to his left, and as they rounded the final curve, and was making up ground on Jareem Richards to his outside for what looked like would be a good battle for bronze.
“I just won. It’s over,” Hall said. “Next four years, I can say I’m Olympic champion.”
Also on the track Wednesday, Soufiane El Bakkali defended his gold in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase for Morocco’s first medal of the Games.
El Bakkali clocked a time of 8 minutes, 6.05 seconds to become the first back-to-back winner of the event since Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo in 1932 and 1936.
American Kenneth Rooks ran a personal best of 8:06.41 to win the silver medal, while Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot claimed bronze.