Marcell Jacobs succeeded Usain Bolt as Olympic 100-meter champion. He still flies 'under the radar'

ROME (AP) — Hardly anyone outside of Italy had heard of Marcell Jacobs before he succeeded Usain Bolt as the Olympic 100 meter champion in Tokyo.

Three injury-filled years have passed, and the Texas-born Italian is almost as big of a mystery now as he was then.

American sprinter Noah Lyles is deservedly garnering the spotlight entering the Paris Games after sweeping three golds at last year’s world championships. A host of other racers have dipped under the 10-second mark this year, too — an achievement that Jacobs hasn’t accomplished in nearly two years.

So Jacobs also has the unusual status of being both the defending champion while remaining an underdog for the biggest race of the Olympics.