Prior to 1992 Allan Wells had been the oldest winner of the Olympic
100m, aged 28. Linford Christie, a superbly built athlete who had only
seriously concentrated on the event from the age of 26, made Wells
seem juvenile, as he triumphed at the age of 32 to become the oldest
ever Olympic Champion at 100m. In the first two rounds Christie
(10.08), Burrell (10.07) and Fredericks (10.13) were the most impres-
sive, and in the semi-finals Burrell looked even better, running 9.97
into a 1.3 wind ahead of Christie (10.00) and Mitchell (10.10).
In the final Bruny Surin (0.124) had the fastest reaction time with
Burrell (0.165) the slowest of the medal contenders. Surin led to 50m
where he was caught by Fredericks and Christie. The Briton was clear
by 60m (6.48), and extended his margin to half a metre by the finish.
Fredericks Held off Mitchell for second, with Burrell a disappointing
fifth. Stewart, in seventh place, became the first man ever to finish
three Olympic 100m finals.
GBR
NAM
USA
CAN
NGR
JAM
