45 F
Oxford

Brittney Reese Concludes Olympic Career, Takes Silver in Women’s Long Jump

Brittney Reese, four-time Olympian and two-time NCAA Champion during her brief but superb career at Ole Miss, cemented herself as one of the greatest long jumpers in history, concluding her historic Olympic career with her third podium finish following a silver medal performance on Tuesday morning local time (Monday evening CDT).

After competition at the U.S. Olympic Trials back in June, Reese confirmed expectations that this would be her final Olympic Games, and in her last appearance she did not disappoint. At 34 years old, the resplendent Reese was in medal contention from start to finish on the way to her silver medal jump at 6.97m/22-10.50 (+0.1) – a satisfying remedy to an early preliminary round exit her previous time on the global stage at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, which she vowed publicly would never happen again.

Reese faced stiff and historic competition in Tokyo on Monday amid ongoing sweltering conditions at Olympic Stadium, playing a part in the first final in world history to have all eight competitors beyond 6.80 meters. It was an extraordinarily tight final as well, featuring the second-closest medal stand in Olympic history that was separated by just three centimeters (the closest since two centimeters separated medalists in 2004). It also featured a peculiar scenario regarding ties between Reese and Nigeria’s Ese Brume, the eventual bronze medal winner.

After a first round 6.60m/21-8 (+0.0) to get on the board, Reese jumped into third place on her second try at 6.81m/22-04.25 (-1.2) before taking the lead on her eventual best of the day in the third round at 6.97m/22-10.50 (+0.1). However, that was also the same mark held by Brume, but Reese at the time held the better second-best attempt at her 6.81-meter jump from a round earlier. That was to change in short order, though, as Brume improved her second-best to 6.88m/22-7 in the fourth round, which wound up a mere one centimeter better than Reese’s fourth-round try right after at 6.87m/22-06.50.

Reese raised the ante of absurdity in the fifth round, improving her second-best total to 6.95m/22-09.75 (-0.7), but not her overall total of 6.97 meters – which was still good enough to take the lead back from Brume. This set up a wild final round of competition in which Brume improved her second-best to 6.90m/22-07.75, but in a surprise it was Germany’s Malaika Mihambo who soared from third place to take the lead and the gold medal at 7.00m/22-11.75.

Both Reese and Brume had an opportunity to go for the win, but fell just shy – giving Mihambo the third-closest margin of victory in Olympic history at three centimeters. This was a bit of déjà vu for Reese in an event already dominated by miniscule measurement differences. Reese lost out on gold in Rio back in 2016 by just two centimeters (the second-closest margin of defeat in Olympic history) to teammate Tianna Bartoletta.

For Reese, this wraps up an otherworldly career on the Olympic stage, as she now joins USA’s Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1988 Gold, 1992 Bronze, 1996 Bronze) and Germany’s Heike Drechsler (1988 Silver, 1992 Gold, 2000 Gold) as the lone women in world history to earn three career Olympic medals in the long jump. Reese was already one of just three American women all-time to make the Olympic final four times, with her four trips to the Games coinciding with a fourth-place finish in Beijing in 2008 (just three centimeters off the podium after retroactive doping bans for opposing competitors), a landmark gold medal win in London in 2012, the aforementioned narrow silver medal performance in Rio in 2016 and now her second career silver in Tokyo this year.

Reese has still maintained she may remain on the world circuit for the foreseeable future, on which she owns eight career medals – including a superb seven golds. In a stretch from 2009-13, Reese became the first long jumper from any nation – male or female – to win gold at five consecutive editions of the World Championships, and included in that stretch was her 2012 London gold medal win as well. Following tonight, Reese has made a global final – Olympics or World Championships – an astounding 13 of 15 times, with 11 of those trips resulting in a medal.

Monday night’s action from Reese marks a conclusion to competition for the Rebels in Tokyo. In total, Ole Miss athletes will bring home two medals – Reese’s silver and an additional silver from Raven Saunders in the women’s shot put. Elsewhere, Rafaelle Souza of Ole Miss soccer was a crucial member of Brazil’s national team that advanced to quarterfinal action before falling to Canada in a shootout. Also, Ole Miss rifle’s Ali Weisz was a key part of USA Shooting’s delegation, finishing 14th overall in the individual women’s 10-meter air rifle and sixth in the second stage of the mixed team 10-meter air rifle – narrowly missing the final in both.

For more information on Rebel Olympians in Tokyo, visit OleMissSports.com/RebsInTokyo.


Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports

Adam Brown
Adam Brown
Sports Editor

Most Popular

Recent Comments

scamasdscamith on News Watch Ole Miss
Frances Phillips on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Grace Hudditon on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Millie Johnston on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Binary options + Bitcoin = $ 1643 per week: https://8000-usd-per-day.blogspot.com.tr?b=46 on Beta Upsilon Chi: A Christian Brotherhood
Jay Mitchell on Reflections: The Square
Terry Wilcox SFCV USA RET on Oxford's Five Guys Announces Opening Date
Stephanie on Throwback Summer
organized religion is mans downfall on VP of Palmer Home Devotes Life to Finding Homes for Children
Paige Williams on Boyer: Best 10 Books of 2018
Keith mansel on Cleveland On Medgar Evans
Debbie Nader McManus on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: The Last of His Kind
Richard Burns on A William Faulkner Sighting
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Ruby Begonia on Family Catching Rebel Fever
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
jeff the busy eater on Cooking With Kimme: Baked Brie
Travis Yarborough on Reflections: The Square
BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH on Oxford is About to Receive a Sweet Treat
baby travel systems australia on Heaton: 8 Southern Ways to Heckle in SEC Baseball
Rajka Radenkovich on Eating Oxford: Restaurant Watch
Richard Burns on Reflections: The Square
Guillermo Perez Arguello on Mississippi Quote Of The Day
A Friend with a Heavy Heart on Remembering Dr. Stacy Davidson
Harold M. "Hal" Frost, Ph.D. on UM Physical Acoustics Research Center Turns 30
Educated Citizen on Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Debbie Crenshaw on Trump’s Tough Road Ahead
Treadway Strickland on Wicker Looks Ahead to New Congress
Tony Ryals on parking
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
C. Scott Fischer on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Sylvia Williams on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Will Patterson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Rick Henderson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
George L Price on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
on
Morgan Shands on Cleveland: On Ed Reed
Richard McGraw on Cleveland: On Cissye Gallagher
Branan Southerland on Gameday RV Parking at HottyToddy.com
Tom and Randa Baddley on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
26 years and continuously learning on Ole Miss Puts History In Context With Plaque
a Paterson on Beyond Barton v. Barnett
Phil Higginbotham on ‘Unpublished’ by Shane Brown
Bettina Willie@www.yahoo.com.102Martinez St.Batesville,Ms.38606 on Bomb Threat: South Panola High School Evacuated This Morning
Anita M Fellenz, (Emilly Hoffman's CA grandmother on Ole Miss Spirit Groups Rank High in National Finals
Marilyn Moore Hughes on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
Jaqundacotten@gmail williams on HottyToddy Hometown: Hollandale, Mississippi
Finney moore on Can Ole Miss Grow Too Big?
diane faulkner cawlley on Oxford’s Olden Days: Miss Annie’s Yard
Phil Higginbotham on ‘November 24’ by Shane Brown
Maralyn Bullion on Neely-Dorsey: Hog Killing Time
Beth Carr on A Letter To Mom
Becky on A Letter To Mom
Marilyn Tinnnin on A Letter To Mom
Roger ulmer on UM Takes Down State Flag
Chris Pool on UM Takes Down State Flag
TampaRebel on UM Takes Down State Flag
david smith on UM Takes Down State Flag
Boyd Harris on UM Takes Down State Flag
Jim (Herc @ UM) on Cleveland: Fall Vacations
Robert Hollingsworth on Rebels on the Road: Memphis Eateries
David McCullough on Shepard Leaves Ole Miss Football
Gayle G. Henry on Meet Your 2015 Miss Ole Miss
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Neely-Dorsey: Elvis Presley’s Big Homecoming
Jennifer Mooneyham on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Wes McIngvale on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
BARRY MCCAMMON on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
Laughing out Loud on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Dr.Bill Priester on Cleveland: On Bob Priester
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
paulette holmes langbecker on Cofield on Oxford – Rising Ole Miss Rookie
Ruth Shipp Yarbrough on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Karllen Smith on ‘Rilee’ by Shane Brown
Jean Baker Pinion on ‘The Cool Pad’ by Shane Brown
Janet Hollingsworth (Cavanaugh) on John Cofield on Oxford: A Beacon
Proud Mississippi Voter on Gunn Calls for Change in Mississippi Flag
Deloris Brown-Thompson on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Sue Ellen Parker Stubbs on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Karen fowler on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Don't Go to Law School on Four Legal Rebels Rising in the Real World
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
Joanne and Mark Wilkinson on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Mary Ellen (Dring) Gamble on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Cyndy Carroll on Filming it Up in Mississippi
Dottie Dewberry on Top 10 Secret Southern Sayings
Brother Everett Childers on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Mark McElreath on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Bill Wilkes, UM '57, '58, '63 on A Letter from Chancellor Dan Jones
Sandra Caffey Neal on Mississippi Has Proud Irish Heritage
Teresa Enyeart, and Terry Enyeat on Death of Ole Miss Grad, U.S. Vet Stuns Rebel Nation
P. D. Fyke on Wells: Steelhead Run
Johnny Neumann on Freeze Staying with Rebels
Maralyn Bullion on On Cooking Southern: Chess Pie
Kaye Bryant on Henry: E. for Congress
charles Eichorn on Hotty Tamales, Gosh Almighty
Jack of All Trades on Roll Over Bear Bryant
w nadler on Roll Over Bear Bryant
Stacey Berryhill on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
John Appleton on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Charlotte Lamb on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Two True Mississippi Icons
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Jeanette Berryhill Wells on HottyToddy Hometown: Senatobia, Mississippi
Tire of the same ole news on 3 "Must Eat" Breakfast Spots in Oxford
gonna be a rebelution on Walking Rebel Fans Back Off the Ledge
Nora Jaccaud on Rickshaws in Oxford
Martha Marshall on Educating the Delta — Or Not
Nita McVeigh on 'I'm So Oxford' Goes Viral
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on How a Visit to the Magnolia State Can Inspire You
Charlie Fowler Jr. on Prawns? In the Mississippi Delta?
Martha Marshall on A Salute to 37 Years of Sparky
Sylvia Hartness Williams on Oxford Approves Diversity Resolution
Jerry Greenfield on Wine Tip: Problem Corks
Cheryl Obrentz on I Won the Lottery! Now What?
Bnogas on Food for the Soul
Barbeque Memphis on History of Tennessee Barbecue
Josephine Bass on The Delta and the Civil War
Nicolas Morrison on The Walking Man
Pete Williams on Blog: MPACT’s Future
Laurie Triplette on On Cooking Southern: Fall Veggies
Harvey Faust on The Kream Kup of the Krop
StarReb on The Hoka
Scott Whodatty Keetereaux Keet on Hip Hop — Yo or No, What’s Your Call
Johnathan Doeman on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
Andy McWilliams on The Warden & The Chief
Kathryn McElroy on Think Like A Writer
Claire Duff Sullivan on Alert Dogs Give Diabetics Peace of Mind
Jesse Yancy on The Hoka
Jennifer Thompson Walker on Ole Miss, Gameday From The Eyes of a Freshman
HottyToddy.com