Marcell Jacobs confident ahead of 100m title defence at Paris 2024 Olympics: 'I can't wait to win it again'

Marcell Jacobs feels he is peaking at the right time to defend his 100m men's Olympic title at Paris 2024.

The Italian shocked the world with his 9.80 run at Tokyo 2020 to claim gold before finishing his debut Games with victory in the men’s 4x100m relay.

But the last three years have been far from smooth for the 29-year-old. He struggled with injury, changed coaches, and relocated to the U.S. to work with Rana Reider in Florida.

However, Jacobs has had a consistent 2024, and in June he defended his European 100m title at home in Rome.

“I'm in great shape,” he told Olympics.com on Wednesday (31 July) in the French capital.

“The last three years was a little bit difficult. I have a lot of injury, but this year no injury. I can work really good so can't wait to go to the track and run fast.

“I improved race of the race. I run my fastest time after Tokyo. I won the European Championships, so I'm in great shape.”

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The former long jumper is encouraged by his steady progress this season. He dashed to his fastest time since Tokyo 2020 last month at the Paavo Nurmi Games, in Finland.

His winning time of 9.92 last month was also his first under 10 seconds in nearly two years.

Jacobs, 29, is upbeat about his chances of taking the 100m gold back to Italy.

“It's the Olympic Games. I worked really hard for that. I know this season was going really good,” he offered.

“I know we work hard in the last month for to arrive in the best shape over here. And I'm ready to go to the track. The pressure is there, but I try to switch this pressure into [positive] energy. We work every day whole life for the Olympics.”

He opens his title defence on Saturday (August 3) at the Stade de France, ahead of Sunday’s final.

The men’s 4x100m relay begins on 8 August.