Being on the podium is just a great feeling – Broadbell

PARIS, France:

In a season where he had to fight to get healthy and on the championship team, Broadbell was determined to get something out of his first major global championship final.

In his first Olympics, Broadbell won the flight to the podium, earning bronze in the men's 110m hurdles final yesterday in a season's best 13.09 seconds.

Reigning World champion Grant Holloway won the Olympic title in 12.99, while his American teammate Daniel Roberts was second in 13.09.

Broadbell's fighting spirit is the headline of his season, where injuries delayed his start to the outdoor campaign until last June. With constant encouragement from his inner circle, Broadbell said that he was ready to display the grit necessary to make the podium.

"I trust God, I trust my coach, I trust my therapist, I trust everyone around me that guided me here tonight. I saw my dad just before I came out today and he brought me food. I came out here and I just fought, just fought 10 barriers, just fight to the line and I think I did that tonight," he said.

"I wanted to be on top of the podium, but being on the podium it is just a great feeling."

Broadbell was in a photo finish at the National Championships in June when he took the title by the barest of margins and was adamant that he did not want to look back on a season of regrets.

Last year in Budapest, he did not finish at the World Championships and in 2022 he missed the World Championship final by the slimmest of margins.

"I told myself that I wasn't leaving the championships without a medal, regardless of what colour it is. Getting a medal here was the goal that I had. When I go on vacation I want to make sure I have a medal so I don't feel guilty that I didn't work for it. So I put in all the work and when vacation time comes I can just chill, reset and get the ball rolling again," Broadbell said.

Jamaica now have six medals heading into the final weekend of the Games.

Meanwhile, national champion Rushell Clayton and Shian Salmon finished fifth (52.68) and sixth (53.29), respectively, in the women's 400m hurdles final in a race that was headlined by reigning champion Sydney McLaughlin Levrone.

The American retained the title by breaking the world record again, in 50.37 seconds. Anna Cockrell was second in 51.87 and reigning World champion Femke Bol was third in 52.15.

Ackelia Smith finished eighth in the women's long jump, her best effort being 6.66 metres, her first attempt.

It was Smith's second final of the Games, having finished seventh in the women's long jump final days earlier.

"I am extremely happy for making it this far, representing my country. Making it to an Olympic final in both events is wonderful. I am still proud of myself and I know a lot of people back home are proud of me too," Smith said.

There were mixed results in the 4x100m relays as the Jamaican women advanced to today's final, to be run at 1:10 p.m. (Jamaica time). The women's team of Alana Reid, Kemba Nelson, Shashalee Forbes and Tia Clayton finished third in their heat as an automatic qualifier.

The men were not as fortunate, and Jamaica will not field a men's 4x100m team in the Olympic final for the first time in 20 years. The team of Ackeem Blake, Jehlani Walker, Jelani Gordon and Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson finished fourth in their heat in 38.45, which was too slow to advance as a non-automatic qualifier.