Trayvon Bromell, the fastest in the world this year and favourite to win the Olympic men's 100 metres gold, sneaked through the first-round heats as a fastest loser on Saturday, pouring even more intrigue into Sunday's final.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce stormed to victory in the women's 100 metres at the Diamond League final in Zurich on Thursday to claim her fifth win in the season-ending event and American Trayvon Bromell triumphed in the men's race.
Kerley leads home American sweep of men's world 100m final
China's Su Bingtian became the first Asian man to reach the Olympic 100 metres final for 89 years on Sunday, scorching to an Asian record of 9.83 in his semi-final, but pre-race favourite Trayvon Bromell failed to make it.
Bromell runs fastest 100 meters this year
With the retirement of three-time champion Usain Bolt, the 100m will have a new gold medallist at Tokyo 2020.
At his peak Bolt was probably the world's most recognisable sportsperson and certainly one of the most marketable. In contrast, the two 2020 Athletes of the year were Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas.
Kerley, hoping to be the first American winner since Justin Gatlin in 2004, ran brilliantly for second, with De Grasse finishing fast in another lifetime best.
Usain Bolt secured a sweep of the three men's sprint titles for a third successive Olympics when Jamaica successfully defended their 4x100 meters relay title in 37.27 seconds on Friday.
Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt won his 100metres heat after what he called a "sluggish" start on Saturday, but looked pained after the race as he prepared to fend off the challenge of American Jason Gatlin for the Olympic crown.
Usain Bolt said that advances in spike technology that could help wipe out his world records are laughable and that the new shoes also give an unfair advantage over any athletes not wearing them.
In other India-related news, Manish Kaurav (KL3 men 200m) and Manjeet Singh (VL2 men 200m) made it to the finals of their respective events for the first time in the history of the tournament.
Images from the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday, Day 7.
Usain Bolt's rivals will, for once, be glad to see the back of a man who has dominated global sprinting for the last decade but the sport of athletics will be far less enthusiastic about bidding a final farewell to the charismatic Jamaican.
The runners who have lost to Usain Bolt for the past dozen years showered the Jamaican superstar with praise on Friday, after he completed his historic "triple-triple" in what he has said will be his final Olympics.
Always the crown jewel in the Olympic athletics programme, the Rio 100 metres final is shaping up to be extraordinary for many reasons.
Usain Bolt is perhaps the only man who can salvage a dismal year for athletics with one final flash of lightning, says Dhruv Munjal.
Ethiopia's world indoor champion Genzebe Dibaba broke the 22-year-old world women's 1,500 metres record on a sultry night at the Monaco Diamond League meet.
Usain Bolt once again produced his best when it mattered most to retain his 100 metres world title and reassert his status as the number one sprinter on the planet at a rocking Bird's Nest Stadium on Sunday night.
Usain Bolt retained his 100 metres title at the IAAF World Championship, in Beijing, on Sunday.
Ten days of athletics competition at the Rio Olympics begin on Friday. Check out the 10 events not to miss at the Olympic Stadium.
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