All of Bolt’s main competition for the medals also made it through pretty easily with his compatriot Yohan Blake, who has had a bad time with injury in the last few years, qualifying with a great mark of 20.13 seconds.
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A match-up between the two over 400m will not happen – Bolt has consistently maintained that he will not step up to the one-lap event, despite Mills’ desire for him to do so – but he is keen on a showdown over 300m, possibly next year. Bolt said his legs were dead at the start.
“I couldn’t believe it”, said Michael Phelps, a good friend of Lochte’s and one of his roommates in the athletes village. “I told you guys I was going to do it”. “I just want to be among the greatest, so that’s why I am here”.
Usain Bolt returned to the event after winning gold in Beijing and London, and there was a feeling as the group of world-class sprinters lined up that it had to be him. By the time Bolt hit the finish line he was pointing to his chest, where the only thing missing on his uniform was a Superman cape. Gatlin pursued him gamely, the way he has for years.
The last Brit to go was Mitchell-Blake in the final heat of 10 and he qualified second with a time of 20.24. And while Bolt was celebrating with anyone he could find, Gatlin was parading the American flag around the track virtually alone.
Gatlin took the silver medal with a time of 9.89 seconds, and Canadian Andre Degrasse took bronze at 9.91 seconds.
It’s not the first time Bolt has been captured in an incredible photo.
A split-second after he crossed, Bolt raised the index finger, and then, the real party began.
Bolt galloped away in celebration after a superb win, basking in the adulation of the stadium and even taking selfies with fans during his lap of honour.
WRESTLING WITH WRESTLING?: Shinobu Ota of Japan stunned seven-time Greco-Roman world champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Hamid Soryan of Iran 5-4.
After some consideration, the world’s quickest man recalls a time he was in a taxi with some fellow athletes – who chose to jump out and do a runner.
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“Somebody said if I win these three gold medals I would be immortal and I kind of liked it”. Two more medals to go and I can sign off.
