Updated at 16.50
– Niall Kelly reports from the Olympic Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
IT’S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE for us to perceive what 0.05 seconds actually looks like, actually feels like.
You could call it the blink of an eye but, realistically, even that takes about eight times longer from start to finish.
That tiniest of split-seconds was all that separated Thomas Barr from taking a sensational bronze medal in the 400m hurdles final in Rio’s Olympic Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The Waterford native arrived knowing that if he had produced the run of a lifetime two nights ago just to qualify, he would need to go even better again to give himself a shot at the medals.
He did exactly that and more. His time, a stunning 47.97, was the fastest of his career by more than four-tenths of a second; a new national record for the second time in three days.
In each of the last three Olympics, it would have been good enough for him to take a place on the podium — silver in Athens and Beijing, and bronze in London four years ago.
A remarkable triumph by the first Irish man to contest an Olympic sprint final since Bob Tisdall took gold in the same event at the Los Angeles Games in 1932.
A performance that will set him apart as one of Ireland’s track greats and, at the age of just 24, point to the most exciting future of endless possibilities.
But then those bittersweet thoughts of what might have been.
America’s Kerron Clement took gold with a season’s best of his own, 47.73, with Kenya’s Boniface Tumuti also setting a new national record of 47.78 on his way to silver.
A new national record too for Yasmani Copello — Cuban by birth but representing Turkey — the man closest to Barr at the line as he dipped in 47.92.
Those margins.
With none of the medallists from last year’s world championship final, this race was already wide open as the athletes took their place at the start line. The organisers’ misguided attempts to sell more tickets for the morning track and field sessions meant that this final took place at noon local time, the midday sun turning up the heat as it beat down on the track.
It didn’t seem to bother Barr, who swigged from his water bottle and couldn’t help but grin as he was introduced to the crowd, taking his place as one of the top eight hurdlers in the world over this distance.
That number quickly became seven as pre-race favourite and London bronze medallist, Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, broke too quickly from the blocks beside Barr. A false start and, under the unforgiving rules, automatic disqualification.
When they got away the second time, Barr looked to hit his stride quickly. After a season wracked by injury — remember, he spent 11 weeks off the track with a hip problem before returning for the National Championships in June — he has timed his return to form perfectly.
The most intriguing thing here is his potential to go quicker again. He was fluid over the hurdles, though might feel that he could have been a fraction faster in getting to some of them, split-seconds sacrificed in the pursuit of careful precision.
And as the field turned for home, Clement turned the screw, trying to put daylight between himself and the chasing pack as he closed in on the gold that has been so elusive for him.
Barr had every chance, his powerful finishing kick unquestionably his strongest asset. He clawed back the ground, stride by stride, but the line came a moment too soon for him.
Had this race been 10 metres longer, we would surely be celebrating the third Irish medal of this rollercoaster Olympics.
But if just getting to the final was bonus territory, Barr took full advantage with one of the all-time great Irish performances on the track, and that can never be taken away from him.
Don’t bother blinking your eye. It was even closer than that.
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I’m a Villa fan and I’m not as confident about avoiding relegation – 14pts from the last 63 available.
And that manky new kit looks like it belongs in the Campionship!
Re: Liverpool. When you say ‘the anonymous Nuri Sahin’ , you do know he wasn’t in the starting 11 today.
Hi Barry,
Yes I’m aware of that fact, hence saying that Enrique was deployed in the midfield spot usually reserved for Sahin.
When I wrote about Sahin being ‘anonymous,’ it was in the context of his last three or four league appearances for Liverpool.
Thanks for the comment.
The most important thing that every reader has learned today is that Wigan have just awoken a sleeping giant.
If Suarez deservedly gets a 3 match ban for his dirty stamping incident, that giant will be in for a rude awakening! Who will score the goals then?
reina :P
Totally disagree about Spurs, brilliant half-time subs from AVB saw us give it a real go. Hell of an improvement on Harry.
Have to agree with you. Tony never seems too have any opinions of his own and spouts off the usual sky sports nonsense.
I respectfully disagree (and I wrote the bit on Spurs btw). The game was over by that stage, and any team can play well when the pressure’s off.
Well then we both disagree then Paul. I waiting for a piece thats new and thoughtful. My brother is Cameron Lancester who is in Spurs reserves. He tells me the Spurs squad is untied and enjoying football under AVB.. Contary to popular opinion but players were not happy with Harry. He froze out many at the club. Spurs are missing 4-5 key players through injury aswell. But team spirit and morale is high
Well it’s fine saying the spirit is high, but the evidence on the pitch suggests otherwise unfortunately. And it’s not a specific dig at AVB, the players are just as culpable, if not more so. We’ll have to agree to disagree I guess.
Nothing to do with spirit. Spurs defence is utter shite
I think the bit on Giggs was a bit harsh, if I was writing a piece on United tonight it would be about how although Valencia looks outstanding when given space behind a defence to run into, when you are organised and defend deep he has no imagination to break you down. Also, Rooney is still our best player, was missed terribly and needs to play higher up the pitch when he returns.
Without the sending off, Spurs would have taken it by 2-3 goals. Arsenal are still a shambles in their own half.
Shane Long has to be the story of the weekend, another man of the match performance, helping WBA into 4th place . Ireland are blessed to have a player of his quality, pity Trap doesn’t appreciate him.
Too true, then Trap is so far past it he is an embarrassment. And his decisions prove that every game..!
I also disagree with the Spurs comment. Watched the game as a neutral and after ten minutes Spurs could have been two nil up despite arsenal hogging possession. Meanwhile arsenal hadn’t created one chance. Sending off completely changed the game but even despite that and spurs still not having all that much possession it could have been 4-3 had bale passed to Defoe rather than shot in the 73rd minute. Had it gotten to that score line I have no doubt it would have cued the inevitable arsenal collapse and it would have been a draw. Arsenal looked good today but only because they played against ten men. Against 11 it was only going one way.
Shane Long was on fire today…plus a nice little double on both teams to score Arse v Spurs & QPR v Southampton. Get in.
5pur2
Shane Long is the future standard of Irish football, he reminds me of a young Robbie keane