The Dominican Republic’s Felix Sanchez won gold in the men’s 400m hurdles Monday night at the Olympic Stadium in London. Sanchez, had the fastest time in qualifying (47.76), and went even quicker in the finals, crossing the line in 47.63 seconds. With the win, Sanchez, the 2004 gold medalist in the event, joins Angelo Taylor, Edwin Moses and Glenn Davis as the only two-time winners in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Felix Sanchez Wins Men’s 400m Hurdles, American Michael Tinsley Gets Silver
Eight years after first winning the event, Felix Sanchez has once again won gold in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Summer Olympics.
American Michael Tinsley won the silver medal, closing after the final hurdle to finish just 0.28 seconds behind Sanchez. The bronze was claimed by Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, the 2011 World Championships silver medalist.
Angelo Taylor of the United States, the gold medal winner from the 2008 Games, ground it out over the home stretch to finish fifth, in 48.25. The other member of Team USA, Kerron Clement, finished in last place, four years after winning silver in Beijing.
For Sanchez, who turns 35 years old at the end of August, it’s his first major win in the 400m hurdles since the gold in Athens (he also won gold at the 2003 World Championships in Paris). Interestingly enough, his winning time on Monday was the exact same as what he ran in 2004.
The last four winners of the 400m hurdles now looks like this: Taylor (2000 Sydney), Sanchez (2004 Athens), Taylor (2008 Beijing) and Sanchez (2012 Beijing). If Angelo Taylor wants to continue that trend in Rio 2016, he’ll have to win the event as a 38-year-old. So, not likely.
For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation’s London 2012 Olympics Hub.
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