Jamaican sprint king storms to 100m gold in 9.81sec; now aims for gold in 200m and 4x100m for historic treble
Jamaican Usain Bolt celebrates after winning gold in the 100m event at Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Pic/AFP
Rio de Janeiro: Usain Bolt said he is confident of signing off as an Olympic "immortal" after his 100m win at the Rio Games left him two races from an unprecedented treble treble.
Jamaican Usain Bolt celebrates after winning gold in the 100m event at Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Pic/AFP
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"It was brilliant. I didn't go so fast but I'm so happy I won. I told you guys I was going to do it," he said after becoming the first man to win three 100m win sprints with a time of 9.81sec.
He said he was confident of winning the 200m and 4x100m relay this week. That would give him the treble of golds for three straight Olympics.
"Somebody said I can become immortal. Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal," said Bolt.
Although well short of his world record 9.58sec, Bolt said the break between the semi-finals and final had been shorter than the runners are used to and he could not rest for long. The Jamaican said he was particularly looking forward to the 200m where he wants to bring down his 19.19sec world record below 19 seconds.
Canada's Andre De Grasse (left), Jamaica's Usain Bolt (second from left), France’s Jimmy Vicaut and USA's Justin Gatlin cross the finish line in the men's 100m final in Rio on Sunday. Pics/AFP
"The 200 meters will be the sweetest one," he told reporters. Bolt also said he had been shocked by the booing in the stadium aimed at his rival Gatlin, who came second.
"I was surprised by it. It was shocking, the first time I heard booing in a stadium. However I just focused on my job and got it done." Gatlin, who has served two drug bans during his long career, made a powerful start to lead over the first 50 metres.
But as soon as Bolt's head came around the midpoint the American was in trouble and the defending champion surged home around a metre clear of the field. The victory left Bolt standing alone in the 120-year history of sprinting in the modern Olympic games.
No other athlete — man or woman — has ever won three consecutive individual Olympic sprint titles.
The Jamaican superstar's latest triumph erases any last lingering doubt that he deserves to be ranked alongside the likes of Muhammad Ali, Pele and Michael Jordan as a once-in-a-generation athlete who transcend their sports.
9.69s
Usain Bolt @ Beijing 2008
9.63s
Usain Bolt @ London 2012
9.81s
Usain Bolt @ Rio 2016
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