Tokyo Olympics 2020: Star athletes who failed to live up to expectations

Nearly five years since he was carted off the track at the Rio Games with a torn Achilles, Trayvon Bromell attributes his remarkable comeback to one thing: An act of God.

The devoutly religious sprinter has endured a litany of injuries on and off the track in his 25 years: breaking both his knees and fracturing his arm and hip, before the pivotal injury in 2016 that threatened his career and sent him on a multiyear journey of recovery.

That he is even competing again after a two-year absence is a testament to his odds-defying will to succeed. That he's a favorite to win the 100-meters in Tokyo is enough to make a believer out of anyone.

"People want to make it all, you know, luck - No. Science - No. I'm sorry," he told Reuters ahead of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials that kick off this week.

"Every doctor that I've seen these past couple of years has told me 'No, you will not be back in top form. You will not be able to run what you ran years prior.' And God said 'No'."

He rolls into Eugene, Oregon, this week with a world-leading time of 9.77 seconds in the men's 100 meters - the only event in which he will contend at the Trials - all but assuring him a spot on Team USA.

It's a tantalizing chance to fill the void left behind by Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who retired in 2017 with eight Olympic golds as the world's most famous and beloved sprinter.

But while the world of athletics eagerly awaits the coronation of a worthy heir to Bolt's legacy, Bromell made clear his focus is elsewhere.

"For me, personally, it's all about purpose. I'm not thinking about no medals. I'm not thinking about no times, I’m not thinking about what people see or none of that," said Bromell, who has adopted a strict "no days off" policy on the road to Tokyo.

It's an approach that has certainly paid off, as he clocked his second sub-10-second performance of the year last month at the Track Meet in Irvine, California.

"People don't understand, you can't stop moving. You can't just stop and get complacent. So for me, every day is a grind," he said.

"For me, every day is another day to be prepared for when God presents you with that opportunity."

The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials begin Friday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Nearly five years since he was carted off the track at the Rio Games with a torn Achilles, Trayvon Bromell attributes his remarkable comeback to one thing: An act of God.

Nearly five years since he was carted off the track at the Rio Games with a torn Achilles, Trayvon Bromell attributes his remarkable comeback to one thing: An act of God. The devoutly religious sprinter has endured a litany of injuries on and off the track in his 25 years: breaking both his knees and fracturing his arm and hip, before the pivotal injury in 2016 that threatened his career and sent him on a multiyear journey of recovery. That he is even competing again after a two-year absence is a testament to his odds-defying will to succeed. That he's a favorite to win the 100-meters in Tokyo is enough to make a believer out of anyone. "People want to make it all, you know, luck - No. Science - No. I'm sorry," he told Reuters ahead of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials that kick off this week. "Every doctor that I've seen these past couple of years has told me 'No, you will not be back in top form. You will not be able to run what you ran years prior.' And God said 'No'." He rolls into Eugene, Oregon, this week with a world-leading time of 9.77 seconds in the men's 100 meters - the only event in which he will contend at the Trials - all but assuring him a spot on Team USA. It's a tantalizing chance to fill the void left behind by Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who retired in 2017 with eight Olympic golds as the world's most famous and beloved sprinter. But while the world of athletics eagerly awaits the coronation of a worthy heir to Bolt's legacy, Bromell made clear his focus is elsewhere. "For me, personally, it's all about purpose. I'm not thinking about no medals. I'm not thinking about no times, I’m not thinking about what people see or none of that," said Bromell, who has adopted a strict "no days off" policy on the road to Tokyo. It's an approach that has certainly paid off, as he clocked his second sub-10-second performance of the year last month at the Track Meet in Irvine, California. "People don't understand, you can't stop moving. You can't just stop and get complacent. So for me, every day is a grind," he said. "For me, every day is another day to be prepared for when God presents you with that opportunity." The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials begin Friday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Athletics: After remarkable recovery, Trayvon Bromell keeps the faith at U.S. Olympic trials

World leader Trayvon Bromell put up another blistering sub-10-second performance to win the Track Meet 100 metres in Irvine, California, on Saturday, an auspicious sign as he prepares for next month's US&nbsp;Olympic trials.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/tokyo-2020-olympic-stadium-holds-track-and-field-test-event-without-fans-383869" hreflang="en">Tokyo 2020: Olympic Stadium holds track and field test event without fans</a>

The 25-year-old Bromell outclassed the competition with a time of 9.92 to win by three-tenths of a second, just short of his season-best of 9.88.

"This week has been a real hard week for me for training," Bromell said in a televised interview. "I can’t let off, I can’t stop thinking about what (God) wants me to do."

The race marked his latest chapter in a remarkable comeback since he was carried off the track at the 2016 Rio Games with an Achilles injury and missed two years of racing rebuilding his body.

Fellow Olympians fine-tuned their form, with opportunities to compete dwindling ahead of the July 23 start of the COVID-delayed Tokyo Games.

Jamaican Omar McLeod, who earned a gold medal at the 2016 Rio&nbsp;Olympics, won the 110 metres hurdles in 13.11, defeating a high-class field that included 2012 London Games gold medalist Aries Merritt.

"Feeling good to be back out there –- thank God for health," said McLeod, 27, who won the event at the 2017 world championships as well. "I have mad respect for everyone out there."

Olympic gold medalist Matt Centrowitz won 1,500 metres by more than a second with a time of 3:35.26.

World leader Trayvon Bromell put up another blistering sub-10-second performance to win the Track Meet 100 metres in Irvine, California, on Saturday, an auspicious sign as he prepares for next month's US Olympic trials.

World leader Trayvon Bromell put up another blistering sub-10-second performance to win the Track Meet 100 metres in Irvine, California, on Saturday, an auspicious sign as he prepares for next month's US Olympic trials. ALSO READ: Tokyo 2020: Olympic Stadium holds track and field test event without fans The 25-year-old Bromell outclassed the competition with a time of 9.92 to win by three-tenths of a second, just short of his season-best of 9.88. "This week has been a real hard week for me for training," Bromell said in a televised interview. "I can’t let off, I can’t stop thinking about what (God) wants me to do." The race marked his latest chapter in a remarkable comeback since he was carried off the track at the 2016 Rio Games with an Achilles injury and missed two years of racing rebuilding his body. Fellow Olympians fine-tuned their form, with opportunities to compete dwindling ahead of the July 23 start of the COVID-delayed Tokyo Games. Jamaican Omar McLeod, who earned a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, won the 110 metres hurdles in 13.11, defeating a high-class field that included 2012 London Games gold medalist Aries Merritt. "Feeling good to be back out there –- thank God for health," said McLeod, 27, who won the event at the 2017 world championships as well. "I have mad respect for everyone out there." Olympic gold medalist Matt Centrowitz won 1,500 metres by more than a second with a time of 3:35.26.

Trayvon Bromell continues comeback to win Track Meet 100 metres

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Tokyo Olympics 2020: Star athletes who failed to live up to expectations

Athletics: After remarkable recovery, Trayvon Bromell keeps the faith at U.S. Olympic trials

Trayvon Bromell continues comeback to win Track Meet 100 metres