Brandon Starc performed superbly in the greatest men’s high jump competition in Olympic history.  

Starc cleared 2.35 metres. A height that would have won a medal at every Olympic Games in history and silver at the last World Championships, yet at Tokyo 2020 this clearance left him in fifth place. The top six athletes either broke their national record or jumped a season best. 

Despite a first attempt clearance at 2.35m by Starc, his earlier two misses at 2.33m, and the number of athletes who had a clean sheet, meant that after a first miss at 2.37m be needed to pass and attempt 2.39m to give himself a chance of a medal.  

The Olympic Record is 2.39m and he made two valiant attempts before exiting the competition. In the end there none of the five remaining athletes could clear 2.39m, and 2.37m was enough to reach the podium. 

In another remarkable twist Qatar’s World Champion Ess Mutaz Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi agreed to not jump off for the gold and share the Olympic crown. The bronze medal was won by Maksim Nedasekau in a Belarus record.  

“That was hard - 2.35m to come fifth,” a disappointed Starc said.  

“I thought I was a genuine chance at 2.39m to be honest. As soon as the three of them jumped 2.37m on the first go there was not much point of trying it. The best I would have come was fourth and I wanted the medal. It wasn’t to be.  

“We’ve finally found some form. I’ve only ever jumped 2.36m, so it should be good going into next year, the Commonwealth Games and the World championships.” ​ 

​Starc is the joint Australian record holder with Olympic bronze medallist Tim Forsyth at 2.36m. The 27-year-old from Sydney was sixth at the 2019 World Championships with a jump of 2.30m. When he won gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, he jumped a personal best of 2.32m. 

Some people know Starc as the brother of a famous cricketer. But athletics fans know him as one of the world’s best high jumpers and the roommate of Matt Denny at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The young Australians will be lamenting what could have been as Denny was fourth in the discus by five centimetres.  

Bol breaks Australian record and cruises into 800m final 

Peter Bol ran the race of his life to win his 800m Olympic semi-final, improve his Australian Record and become Australia’s first finalist in this event since the Mexico Games in 1968. 

Bol won semi-final two in a time of 1:44.11, 0.02 seconds faster than the Australian record he set in the heat.  

“I’m just so happy right now,” Bol said. “I’ve been backing myself, but it was tough seeing these people run pretty fast times while being in Australia. I went to Europe for three weeks, raced two races, they probably weren’t the best, but they were the best preparation for coming here. 

“I told my coach that I thought I could win a medal and he said not to get ahead of yourself. We’re here, two Australian records in a row and I’m happy. I look forward to the final.” 

Bol ran the perfect tactical race to be sitting on the shoulder of the leader for the first 700 metres and then pulled to the front of the bend and then with 50 metres to go took the lead and had all challenges covered – with seeming ease. 

“I wanted to be in the best position, and the best way to come top two is to put yourself in the top two. If it meant using more energy at the start, that’s the way it is. 

“We are here to race, we’re not here to chase times. It’s a final, that’s history. Times and records are great, championships and goals are what we are chasing.” 

“I love creating noise, creating hype, staying humble and enjoying the ride.” 

Ralph Doubell was the last Australian finalist in men’s 800m at Mexico 1968 and Doubell won the Olympic title, 72 years after Edwin Flack at the first modern Olympics in 1896.    

Bol was the second fastest runner in the semis behind Kenyan Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich, who won semi-final 3 in 1:44.04. It was Rotich, the world championship bronze medallist, that beat Bol in the heat. London 2012 silver medallist Nigel Amos was caught up in a fall with 150 metres to go and was out. 

Jeff Riseley who was trailing at the back of the field through the bell but had moved up to sixth and looking ominous when Amos and the American fell with 150 metres to run. The 34-year-old from Melbourne avoided the fall but lost momentum and hopes of a top placing. At his fourth Games and in his first Olympic semi-final Riseley placed fifth in 1:47.17. 

Charlie Hunter was the first Australian in action, in semi-final 1. Hunter got a push in the back after 250 metres and then moved forward to be positioned second with 300m to run. Again, the Aussie got checked coming into the final bend and with the pace on at the front his chance of progressing were over. The 25-year-old on Olympic debut placed seventh in 1:46.73. 

Having three Australians in the semi-finals is an Olympic first, and we hope that Bol can create some more history 53 years after Doubell and 125 years after Edwin Flack won the first ever Olympic 800m final.   

Browning misses 100m final but shows he belongs on the world stage 

Rohan Browing ran really well in his 100m semi-final but it wasn’t the exceptional race he needed, and was capable of, to reach the Olympic final.  

Browning reacted well to the gun but didn’t drive as well in the first 15 metres as he did in the heat. He was a stride back in the biggest race of his life. The 23-year-old showed maturity to relax and in full stride pulled back ground on the leaders but he ran out of track and finished a close fifth in 10.09 seconds.  

“I’m very disappointed. I definitely had a better run in me than that, but I gave the field to much of a gap on me and you can’t do that in Olympic Games,” Browning said. 

“This is championship racing. Sometimes you nail it and sometimes you don’t. This is a sport where the smallest of margins really matter. I just had to be better on the day.” 

“I’d like to think I belong here. This sport is about consistency, not one-off major times and not being there. I’ve been very consistent at 10.0 and that’s where you need to be to run sub-10. I’m obviously just not quite there yet, but hopefully not too far off.” 

Browning is only 23 and has come a long way in a short amount of time. Only one younger man made it to the final. Browning’s time will come.  

“There is always something ahead. The next three years are going to be very busy for major championships. I’m hoping to go and run world indoors next year, and then Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships.” 

“The times in that third semi-final were just incredible. People were saying that Tokyo was going to be a softer Olympics, and it has not been that. The heats were the fastest ever. There are bits and pieces that I walk away with that are positive, other learnings, that’s the way it goes.” 

“It’s been really nice to get so many kind words from everybody, it’s been really genuine. I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done today but I want to thank everyone for the support.”

 Clay falls just short of Olympic final with personal best 

Liz Clay performed superbly in the 100m hurdles semi-finals. After years of injuries and in her first major championship Clay handled the pressure of a delayed start, with three general warnings for the field before a clean start on the fourth attempt. 

Clay started well, hurdled cleanly and finished strong to place third in her Olympic semi-final in a personal best time by 0.01 seconds, 12.71s.  

“I’m gutted. I felt like I handled the false starts well at my first major and ran well but to miss this final by 0.08 seconds is so disappointing. 

“I can’t believe it I wanted it so bad. It’s been such a long journey to get here. 

“I think I held my own out there and believe I’m good enough to be in the final. A personal best by 0.01 is great, but that’s nothing compared to what making the final would have meant,” Clay said. 

“The calibre this year is insane. I’ll be back in Paris and pushing for that final.” 

Clay is the second fastest Australian behind 2012 Olympic Champion Sally Pearson. 

“Sally and I had a different path to our success. I was a late bloomer and Sally was a young prodigy from the age of 18. I’m hoping I can inspire those that take that little bit longer. 

“It’s great to be coming up the ranks behind her. She’s an Australian icon and I look up to her success.” 

On Monday at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium, an impressive list of seven athletes will fly the Australian flag. During the morning session from 10am-1pm AEST, 1500m stars Linden Hall, Jessica Hull and Georgia Griffith, and 200m sprinter Riley Day will all race for a place in the semis.  

On Monday evening from 8pm AEST, pole vaulters Nina Kennedy and Elizaveta Parnova will jump in qualifying, and then Steve Solomon will look to turn back the clock and make the Olympic 400m final like he did back in 2012.  

Andrew Reid