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Rio Olympics: Former Vol Justin Gatlin Advances to 100-Meter Semifinals

By Caleb Calhoun

Jul 3, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Christian Coleman (left) and Justin Gatlin (right) compete during the men s 100m semifinals heats in the 2016 U.S. Olympic track and field team trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 3, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Christian Coleman (left) and Justin Gatlin (right) compete during the men s 100m semifinals heats in the 2016 U.S. Olympic track and field team trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Tennessee Volunteers track and field star Justin Gatlin advanced to the 100-Meter Semifinals in the Rio Olympics on Saturday, Aug.13.

Related Story: Ranking All 11 Vols Competing in the Rio Olympics

A familiar face represented the Tennessee Vols in epic fashion on Saturday at the Summer 2016 Rio Olympics. Justin Gatlin, who was at Tennessee from 2000 to 2002 and helped the track and field program to a national championship one year, made a splash in his debut at the 2016 summer games in Brazil.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Gatlin won the second heat of qualifying in 10.01 seconds. That was the fastest time of the eight first-round heats, and it was a better time than Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who also advanced.

Gatlin will be looking for his second gold medal after winning one in 2004. He won bronze in 2012 and was serving a four-year suspension in 2008.

However, he seems to have put his past behind him and is ready to retake his crown. Could Gatlin end Bolt’s run in dominating the 100-meters? If Bolt wins this year, it will be his third straight gold medal in that competition.

Bolt was the star drawing the cheers, and Gatlin is the enemy given his past doping scandal, but he has the chance to take the crown back very soon.

Meanwhile, maybe it’s time to give Gatlin the benefit of the doubt as well. After all, he still denies he was cheating, but he served his time.

There is no reason for Lilly King to attack him. This is a great article on Gatlin’s response.

As he said, he served his time. He just wants to go out and run. And all Americans should support that.

Both the semifinals and the final will be Sunday night.

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