"I was expecting a faster time tbh";"Don’t think they will matter in Paris"-Fans react as Olympic Champion Marcell Jacobs clocks 10.08s in Rieti

Tokyo Olympic Champion Marcell Jacobs participated in the 100m at a pre-Olympic event in Reiti. The Italian athlete was competing alongside 200m Olympic Champion Andre DeGrasse, where he emerged victorious to clinch the title after clocking 10.08s.

Marcell Jacobs has been slowly progressing in his performances as he aims to peak at the prestigious quadrennial Games in Paris. He made his Olympic season debut at the East Coast Relays in April 2024. Jacobs clocked his season-best performance at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland where he clocked 9.92s.

The Italian athlete finished first at a pre-Olympic event with Xie Zhenye of China taking the second place with a time of 10.09s and 200m Olympic Champion, Andre DeGrasse finishing third after clocking 10.11s.

His performance in the pre-Olympic event in the 100m disappointed fans as some were not impressed with the time whereas some questioned his title defense chances at the Paris Olympics where some of the best athletes would be contesting/

Fans took to X to express their opinion on the race.

"I was expecting a faster time tbh," a fan tweeted.

"Good tune up races. But don’t think they will matter in Paris," wrote another fan.

" A win’s a win & good for him here but there’s no doubt we’ll have a new Olympic Champion in Paris," another fan chimed in.

Here are some more fan reactions:

"Decent tune up run. Won’t put too much into the time, could tell this was more about simulating the rounds in Paris," wrote a fan.

" Marcell really delivers where it matters. 😂 anything that is required to win a race, he will always run it. He doesn’t run for PB," another fan chimed in.

" Sadly, I don't think any of these guys will make the final in Paris," tweeted a fan.

Marcell Jacobs opens up on winning a medal in Paris

Marcell Jacobs at the 26th European Athletics Championships - Rome 2024: Day Three

Marcell Jacobs spoke to Athletics weekly about defending his title at the upcoming Paris Olympics. The Italian athlete revealed that winning the medal was his foremost priority.

"Times don’t matter. What counts is the medal. There’s always going to be someone who runs faster than you do but no one can take away your medal. Sure, you are concentrating on running the best race possible but what stays with you is the medal around your neck," he said.

Jacobs will be competing at the Paris Olympics alongside Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, and Kishane Thompson among others to defend his 100m gold medal.