Olympic Champions Jacob joins controversial coach Reider ahead Paris 2024 Games

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games 100m winner Marcel Jacobs is changing coaches and moving from his home country of Italy to Florida.

Jacobs, 28, will be coached by Rana Reider, according to the Italian track and field federation. Reider’s athlete group in Jacksonville has included 2022 World 100m bronze medalist Trayvon Bromell.

Jacobs was previously coached in Rome by Paolo Camossi for several years, including 2021, when he ran Italian records in all three of his Olympic 100m rounds, capped by winning the final in 9.80 seconds.

Jacobs, who was born in Texas and moved to his mom’s native Italy as a child, has been largely sidelined since his surprise gold in Tokyo.

He withdrew before the 100m semifinals at the 2022 World Championships due to leg injuries, then was eliminated in the 100m semifinals at this past August’s worlds.

In May, an attorney wrote that Reider agreed to serve one year of probation — while continuing to coach — in resolving a case with the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

The center handles allegations of emotional, physical and sexual abuse in Olympic and Paralympic sports. The center has not published details of Reider’s case.

The attorney wrote that Reider acknowledged a “consensual romantic relationship with an adult athlete.” The attorney wrote that “Reider was not found in violation of any other sexual misconduct claims” and that his case was closed.

Later Monday, Olympic 100m silver medalist Fred Kerley indicated in social media posts that he is now being coached by 1992 Olympic 400m gold medalist Quincy Watts.

Kerley, the 2022 World 100m champion, was also eliminated in the 100m semifinals at last month’s worlds.

“Choosing to make changes is always risky, even riskier during a year like the Olympics,” was posted on Kerley’s channels. “I felt that I needed to bet on myself. I needed to prove to myself that I was all in and that meant seeking the guidance of Coach Watt entrusting him to bring out the best version of myself in the most important athletic year of my career. You’ll ready?”

Kerley, 28, has trained under Grenada’s Alleyne Francique since he sprinted for Texas A&M.

Watts, an assistant at USC, also coaches Olympic and world 400m hurdles medalist Rai Benjamin.