‘My calf cramped!’ Zharnel Hughes heartbroken at 100m disqualification and missing medal

Tokyo 2020 round-up: Asher-Smith's 100m heartbreak and a boxing bronze

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Zharnel Hughes was visibly heartbroken after speaking for the first time following his disqualification in the men’s 100m final before explaining what happened. Hughes was looking to make British sprinting history in the men’s final, which was seen as being wide open across the eight runners.

But disaster struck in the blocks when Hughes jumped the gun and he knew his mistake as soon as it happened.

The 26-year-old was shaking his hand in disbelief as he slumped back to the starting blocks before being shown the red and black flag for disqualification.

Hughes looked defeated as he walked off the track and all he could do was watch on as Italy’s Marcell Lamont Jacobs won gold with a time of 19.80.

Speaking after the race, Hughes was clearly heartbroken at his own mistake before admitting the reason he jumped up early was because of cramp.

“I’m gutted right now,” Hughes told BBC.

“When we went up on set, my left calf cramped up on me.

“So with the cramp, I moved. Gutted.”

He added: “It was out of my control.

“Unfortunately, my calf cramped when I went up on set and I moved.

“I can’t describe it. It hurts a lot. Second time again. I’m just disappointed.”

Seeing the times that won medals, Hughes was confident that he would have been able to finish inside the top three.

“I feel as if I was in that finals, I would have definitely walked away with a medal.

“No doubt about it.”

USA’s Fred Kerley won silver in a time of 9.84 ahead of Canada’s Andre de Grasse, who ran 9.89.

Hughes had ran a seasons-best time of 9.98 to win his semi-finals earlier in the day.

He would have had to better his personal-best record of 9.91 to win a medal, but Hughes stated before the Olympics that he felt in great form to do something special.

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