Bolt, as expected, took gold with a time of 9.81 seconds. “I did what I had to”.
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Gatlin, the pantomime villain drug cheat of the Games, was loudly and aggressively booed by the boisterous Rio crowd before the race. University of Tennessee product Justin Gatlin has had better times than Bolt in the past couple years and has openly pursued this showdown and his own history – becoming the oldest 100 victor at age 34, 12 years after claiming gold in the event in Athens.
Bolt came into the Olympics not having run a 100 since June 30, when he pulled out of Jamaican national championships with a bad left hamstring. Two more medals to go and I can sign off.
Usain Bolt sauntered onto the track, stretched out his arms and waved his hands, signaling for more applause.
“Words can’t express, I am extremely excited, elated and happy, Usain Bolt is one of the greatest athletes of all time”, said another Jamaican Bolt supporter.
“Usain Bolt will be retiring soon, but this could be the next star of the sport”, Johnson said during his commentary on BBC. Canada’s Andre de Grasse claimed bronze in 9.91 seconds – the same finishing order as in last year’s world championships.
Bolt has now won the “World’s Fastest Man” unofficial title at the Olympics three different times in his 20s.
This was a tease, though, with Gatlin leading for about the first 75 meters before Bolt exploded to overtake him.
“After the semi-final, I felt extremely good”, Bolt added.
In stark contrast to Bolt’s reception, Gatlin walked out to the start line to a chorus of boos, but he was unmoved. He wanted this one and two more – the 200m gold and the 4×100 relay – at these Olympics that he has said will be his last.
“It was brilliant”, Bolt said.
And while Bolt was celebrating with anyone he could find, Gatlin was parading the American flag around the track virtually alone.
Millions of Bolt’s fans held their breath as he got off to a relatively slow start in the 100 and Gatlin took the early lead.
“Jamaica Stand Up! This is for you my people”, he tweeted.
Chants of “Bolt, Bolt, Bolt” rang out from the near-capacity stadium.
The race followed the pattern of so many before as he eventually unraveled his long legs to gain maximum pace and though he did not hit the front until later than he might have liked, when he did he shot past Gatlin like a track cyclist coming out of a slipstream in the velodrome.
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“At the end of the day, you hear everything”, Gatlin said. I’m a competitor. He is a competitor and has pushed me to become the athlete I am today.
