Quincy Hall was the latest American to electrify the Olympics track and field with a comeback from nowhere on Wednesday night, sprinting from far behind in the 400 meters to reel in three runners and claim the gold medal.
Hall, buried in fourth place as the runners rounded the final bend, ran away from the runner on the outside, then two more to the inside to cross the line in 43.40 seconds, the fourth-fastest time ever.
Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith took silver, finishing in 43.44 seconds, and Muzala Samukonga of Zambia won bronze, finishing in 43.74 seconds.
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Hall celebrated his improbable comeback by collapsing on the court and make a snow angel move.
The only other American in the race, Michael Norman, finished last.
Hall is the first American since LaShawn Merritt in 2008 to win gold in the one-lap race. His victory came the following evening The American Cole Hocker came from far behind late to beat the favorites in the men’s 1,500.
Earlier Wednesday, the often routine qualifying rounds of Olympic athletics took some strange turns a four-man pileup in one men’s 5,000m heat, a cameraman going into the other and drama in the high jump that left the defending co-champions in dire straits.
