Baylor ex Trayvon Bromell slowed by Achilles, last in Olympic 100-meter dash

Trayvon Bromell ran the 100-meter dash with an injured Achilles that needs surgery. The former Baylor standout said he nearly withdrew before the semifinals.

“My Achilles was bothering me,” Bromell said “I was kind questioning about pulling myself out of the race, but I prayed to God. I was like, ‘Man, just give me the health just to get through the race.’ This was my dream. I always wanted to be in the Olympics. I told myself I believe in God, so he got me through the race.

“Now I’m happy with the experience to go back home and get surgery on my Achilles, and 2020 hopefully take gold.”

Bromell finished last in the field of eight runners with a 10.06. Usain Bolt won in 9.81, with Justin Gatlin second in 9.89.

“I wasn’t trying to do too much because I didn’t want to [reinjure] myself,” Bromell said. “I was like, ‘Just do as much as you can just to get through.’ My thing is I’m young. There are a lot of Olympics in my body. It’s a lot of work. I’m happy. I equaled my PB this year.

“My thing is if I was healthy I would have been able to run faster. At the end of the day, the best man won, and I’m just happy to be in the field.”

Bromell equaled his personal best this season with a 9.84, which would have been good for the silver medal.

“I ran 9.8 multiple times this year,” he said. “I had it in me. It just wasn’t my time.”

Bromell turned pro in October, forgoing his final two seasons at Baylor. He was a two-time NCAA champion and took the bronze medal at the IAAF World Championships.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 11:30 AM with the headline "Baylor ex Trayvon Bromell slowed by Achilles, last in Olympic 100-meter dash."