The post-Usain Bolt era has found its new fastest man. Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy sprinted to Olympic gold in the men’s 100-metre dash on Sunday, finishing in 9.80 seconds.

In an evening of pulsating drama, Fred Kerley of the US finished second in 9.84 seconds, and Andre De Grasse of Canada was third (9.89).

The 26-year-old Jacobs, a former long jumper, surged ahead in the last 30m to take the tag of the fastest man on the planet.

The event had long been dominated by Jamaican legend Bolt, who retired following the 2017 world championships after doubling as the 100-and 200-metre champion at three straight Olympics, from 2008 to 2016.

Jacobs is the first European to win the Olympic 100m title since Britain’s Linford Christie at Barcelona 1992, and Italy’s first Olympic sprint champion since Pietro Mennea took the 200m at Moscow 1980.

It turned out to be a double gold night for Italy. Minutes before the 100m dash, Gianmarco Tamberi had won the top prize in high jump and Jacobs said the feat served as a great lift.

Bolt’s absence meant the field was wide open, and long-shot Jacobs grabbed it with both hands.

“It’s been my dream since I was a child,” Jacobs said. “I need a week or so to on understand what happened. Seeing Gimbo (Tamberi) win the high jump gold fired me up a lot.

“I’ve won an Olympic gold after Bolt, it’s unbelievable.”

In a surprise, the field did not include Trayvon Bromell of the US, who had the fastest lifetime best among the semi-finalists: 9.77 seconds, which he had run in June.

But after struggling to a fourth-place finish in his opening-round heat on Saturday, he finished third in the second of three semis on Sunday, missing out on an automatic spot in the final by a thousandth of a second.

The field also missed another notable American: Christian Coleman, the reigning world champion, who is serving a suspension for a series of missed drug tests.

Jacobs was born in El Paso, Texas, before moving to Italy with his mother when he was less than a month old. The Italian had originally planned to follow his father into basketball and even dabbled in swimming. But in his early years he focused on the long jump, with his best attempt a decent 7.95m. Having switched to sprinting, though, he showed his potential by reaching the semi-finals of the Doha 2019 world championships.

Before Sunday’s race began, the stadium was plunged in darkness as the names of the finalists were read out. As the eight men crouched down, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, in lane four, suddenly got a rush of blood and false-started. But when the gun fired again, it was Jacobs who kept his cool.

Inevitably this 100m final felt very different without the familiar sight of a Bolt run. But there was plenty of intrigue, in large part because

no one had any idea who would win.

And even Bolt would have been proud of Jacobs’ run: the Italian’s 9.80 was a shade better than the Jamaican’s 9.81 gold medal run at Rio in 2016.

As he crossed the line, Jacobs, who was barely known even inside track circles, thumped his chest and flexed his biceps before jumping into the arms of Tamberi.

The new fastest man on earth suggested the party would be like the one after Italy’s Euro 2020 victory last month.

“It is fantastic for Italy, I think there is a big party like for the football,” Jacobs said. His stunning performance sure deserves that.

Lamont Marcell Jacobs. Getty Images

100m champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy was born on September 26, 1994, in El Paso, Texas (US), to an Italian mother and American father.

A former long jumper, he also sports a striking number of tattoos which are clearly visible around his race vest. He calls the tattoos a representation of his “America” side, with one reading, “Famiglia. Dove nasce la vita e l’amore non ha mai fine,” which translates as “Family. Where life is born and love never ends.” On his chest he has a rose and, in Italian, the Charlie Chaplin quote “What is really good is to fight with determination, embrace life and live it with passion! Lose your battles with class and dare to win because the world belongs to those who dare.”

Also on his body are the names of his children and his partner Meghan on his right bicep.

On his back is a tiger representing “strength, passion and beauty” and on his arm is a cross with the word ‘Believe’.Just below his neck he has the words ‘CrazyLongJumper’ which is also his nickname on social media.