Kerron Clement adds to U.S. gold medal haul with men's 400 hurdles victory

Kerron Clement came to Rio as the favorite in the men’s 400 hurdles. (AP Photo)

 

Given another chance at medaling in the 400-meter hurdles, Kerron Clement made sure not to waste the opportunity. And now he’s got Olympic gold to show for it.

The 30-year-old Clement held on to win the 400 hurdles in a season-best time of 47.73 seconds at the Rio Games on Thursday afternoon, the first medal race in a blockbuster day at Olympic Stadium that will include Usain Bolt trying to win his third consecutive gold in the 200.

Kenya’s Boniface Mucheru Tumuti won silver in a time of 47.78. Turkey’s Yasmani Copello (47.92) took bronze.

Clement is elated with his second Olympic gold. His first came eight years ago in Beijing, when he won the 4×400 relay and added a silver in the 400 hurdles. A medal-less London 2012 — including a last-place finish in the 400 hurdles — led to this year when Clement reestablished himself as the dominant figure in the event and came to Rio as the favorite.

The 400 hurdles field was particularly weak, with American Johnny Dutch, considered the best in the world, failing to make the team at the U.S. Olympic Trials and star hurdler Dennis Kudryavstev banned because of the sanctions against Russia.

No other American made the final, including Michael Tinsley, the silver medalist in 2012.