Lamont Marcell Jacobs: How a hyperactive kid grew up to win Olympic 100m gold

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Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs claimed a shock gold in the Olympic 100m final on 1 August, 2021. Jacobs, who only switched away from long jump in 2018, streaked clear to win in 9.80 seconds, 0.04 clear of American Fred Kerley. The BBC's OS radio show spoke to his mother, Viviana Masini. She describes her reaction on hearing the news and her son's early childhood. She says Marcell was born in Texas to an American father but she moved back to her Italian homeland before his first birthday after his father went to South Korea on military duties, and how she brought him up to play a range of sports in an attempt to tire him out as he as a hyperactive kid. Photo: Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy celebrates after winning gold in the men's 100 metre final at the Tokyo Olympics Credit: Reuters