Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs snaps back at doubters as he shares how his determination earned him medals despite injuries

Marcell Jacobs snapped back at doubters by sharing a timeline of his injuries and a list of his laurels. The reigning 100m champion at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics said everyone should believe in themselves and keep fighting despite difficulty, no matter what the doubters say.

Marcell Jacobs, 29, holds nine gold medals across major championships. He became the 2020 Tokyo Olympics 100m champion, running in a time of 9.80s, leaving US rival Fred Kerley behind. He also broke the medal drought of 73 years by anchoring the 4x100m relay team to the gold podium. The rest of his Olympic year was marred by fatigue.

That was not the first time Jacobs missed races citing health difficulty or injury. He pulled out from the 2016 Rio Olympics in the wake of a hamstring injury. He didn't race in the European Championships; back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. Marcell Jacobs was also a long jump athlete but mindfully struck out the discipline in 2019, citing frequent injuries.

A biceps femoris injury also plagued the 2022 Diamond League season, followed by a thigh injury to end his 2022 World Championships dreams. In 2024, he won the 100m at the European Championships but was seen limping after the race. Several injuries over the years sparked speculation and people doubted Jacobs' abilities.

In his X post recently, the 29-year-old snapped back at fans sharing a list of his wins and the injuries that tried to hinder his course. He also shared some motivational words directed toward strong hearts like him.

"It is only through dedication, hard work, and focus on your goals that you can achieve your dreams, and just as I did, you can too! Because I believe in you!"

Sharing this tweet, a track fan lashed out at haters who called Jacobs a fluke and someone who faked injuries.

"Meanwhile, some of you have the AUDACITY to suggest that this man is a fluke and is faking his injuries?!"

"There will always be people who judge you" - Marcell Jacobs on being judged before his Tokyo Olympics stint

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Going into the 100m finals in Tokyo, the bookmakers had given him a three percent chance of winning, let alone being a top seed. However, his gritty mindset finished on top, silencing those uncertain of his prowess.

In a conversation with Athletics Weekly, he shared that people talked behind him since they couldn't reach where he stood.

"In life, when you do something important, there will always be people who judge you, have something to say and criticise you. Maybe, it’s because they haven’t done much in themselves or they don’t know what it’s like to be in that position," he said.

In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Marcell Jacobs will enter as a formidable competitor of the US athletes, especially reigning world champion Noah Lyles.