The return of the King is delayed. If the small part of the Italian expedition that remained in Tokyo until the last day of competition, and present at the Closing Ceremony, returned from Japan on the Italian evening of Sunday, Marcell Jacobs it will land in Rome only on Monday.
Ideally it is as if the two-time Olympic champion, in 100 meters and in 4 × 100 relay, struggled to break away from a land that changed his life forever, that projected him into the legend of Italian sport and into the history of the world, that changed the approach that the media, companions and opponents will have towards him in all the rest of a career that is still long and full of successes.
Precisely on the relationship with the outside world, the one that Marcel will review on Monday and towards which, as stated in an interview with ‘Corriere della Sera’, the Italian-Texan sprinter nourishes “a pinch of fear”, the conversation that Jacobs had on Sunday with “La Gazzetta dello Sport” was concentrated.
An interview in which they were not lacking controversial references towards surprising “targets”.
One for all, Usain Bolt. The three-time 100-meter Olympic champion, after a few days of silence, wanted to congratulate his heir in the roll of honor of the Olympic race, declaring to the ‘Corriere della Sera’ that he had been “conquered by what has been done by Marcel, his mental strength and his physical strength. Today he is my heir ”.
But these words are not enough for Marcell, who would have liked a direct contact with what is inevitably his myth: “In the 100-meter roll of honor, after his name, mine appears. I was hoping he would call me, but he didn’t make himself heard directly ”stings Marcell.
Those who, on the other hand, did not fail to compliment Jacobs out loud were some of his historical friends from the world of music and entertainment: “I have not yet realized how and how much the perception of the world towards me could change, but I was pleased with the follow-up of rap singers like Sfera Ebbasta and Capo Plaza or the invitation of the boxer Daniele Scardina to an October match. These are my passions ”.
All while they arrive from the world, in particular from Great Britain and the United States allegations and suspicions on the growth in results achieved by Jacobs in recent months.
But the blue is waterproof: “They don’t touch me in any way: I go on my way. Nicole (his girlfriend, editor’s note) says I’m treacherous for how I let it all slip away: it must be that 1% American in me. The relationship with scavengers? I’ve known him for years, he’s from Desenzano like me, we’re almost the same age. When I started working with him last September, I didn’t know about the investigation. Otherwise I would have given up. He should be cleared in October. After turning 100, having known me for a lifetime, he got excited and claimed to be in my team too. This is not the case and he was asked to change course, as well as to remove all his posts that stated such things ”.
Closing with a “burning” theme, that of relationships with Filippo Tortu.
The sprinter from Brianza saved his Olympics with that exhilarating sprint in the relay, after missing the final in the 100.
For the former Italian speed record holder, the first blue to drop below 10 ”in the 100, Jacobs’ overtaking at the top of the Italian sprint is now a done thing.
A turning point which, according to what Marcell said, changed the relationship between the two: “With Filippo, relations have now reversed. Now I am going faster and something has cracked. In the transition, something may have broken mutual trust. A missed greeting, an unspoken compliment. But I know Filippo well, I respect him and I know that certain things don’t come directly from him. And after what he did in the final… ”.
An unexpected statement that could partially disturb the idyll between the four golden relay runners. Waiting for Tortu’s response …
OMNISPORT | 09-08-2021 08:06
