Benjamin Richardson battles nerves to book semifinal spot in his debut Olympics

The highly anticipated final is set for 9.50 pm, and the 20-year-old is confident he will be competing in the biggest race of his career.

After a brief wait to confirm his status as one of the third fastest qualifiers in the men’s 100m heats with a time of 10.06 seconds, he finished in fourth place, and he has no doubt in his mind that he could secure a spot in the final.

"Nothing much I was very confident that I'll make it through so I wasn't too nervous. I was getting the rust off, I was quite nervous and so that really got to me and I didn't really go full out. So, the next race I'll do better I promise," Richardson said.

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Richardson said that he approached the heat in the Olympic Games the same way he would have any other race, choosing not to stress too much about the pressure.

"It's normal right now, I have to get used to this type of pressure so I'm not thinking too much of it, I'm just taking it as any other race. I trust in myself, so I've got no worry, I will make the final," he added.

Richardson prefers to take things one day at a time, eager to see where this journey will lead him.

He has faith in his coach, Paul Gorries, and feels optimistic about his chances of reaching the final.

"I take it day-by-day and I trust in my coach so it's been going very well. I just need to put down my fast time again like I've done before then I'll be good. I'm not nervous at all, 10:06 is a very good run, especially in the first round,” he explained.

“I just happened to be in one of the fast heats so that's what happened but I'm not too stressed anymore. I've taken the nerves out in my first race, I was quite nervous coming to it but now I'm good."