In what might have been the final individual race of his illustrious Olympic career, Bolt won the gold medal in the men’s 200 meters, obliterating the other competitors in a contest devoid of tension, further cementing his standing as the most dominant sprinter in history.
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The record-breaking Jamaican sprinter powered his way to 200m glory to add a second gold medal to his Rio collection, having already secured victory in the 100m last Sunday night.
After jogging his way to the final in the 200-meter earlier this week, Bolt finally appeared to give his full effort on Thursday night in the final, and his time of 19.78 seconds was 0.41 seconds faster than the silver medalist. I’m sure the Jamaican track star would greatly appreciate it, though he might contest that there’s a strong lack of showmanship depicted as he finishes his sprint. “Because I can’t prove anything else”.
“One day, I’m going to have to meet Daley, shake his hand and thank him for giving me something to chase after”, said Eaton. I hope after these Games I will be in that bracket,”he declared in the seconds after the win”.
Bolt will return to the track for the 4x100m relay on Friday looking to complete the sweep of all three sprint titles at three successive Olympics, otherwise known as the “triple-triple”. Some people were expecting a clash between Bolt and the young 21 year old Andre De Grasse from Canada. Both were awarded the same time of 20.12.
Indeed, the 2016 Rio Olympics has become a showcase for Usain Bolt to cement his legacy as one of the best to run on the track.
Beaten only once in nine years in his favourite event, the Jamaican had said he thought the world record of 19.19 he set at the 2009 world championships in Berlin was within reach. It was not to be. “I have no idea”, Bolt said, laughing. “On the straight, my body didn’t respond”. France’s Christophe Lemaitre claimed bronze, reports Xinhua.
“You can tell that he’s getting old”, he said. “I knew I could but I also knew it would be unbelievably hard. I’m so grateful to get this medal”. “I have put the sport on a different level”.
Churandy Martina of the Netherlands, timed at 20.13, was only another three thousandths of a second behind Gemili, while American former 400m champion LaShawn Merritt was sixth in 20.19. Somebody said if I win these three gold medals I would be immortal and I kind of liked it.
Ashton Eaton has become nearly as dominant in the decathlon as Bolt is in the sprints but the American was happy to defer to Bolt after retaining his title.
Usain Bolt has done it again!
“I had the pleasure of being in the same era as Usain Bolt”.
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Ben’s latest work is amusing and does a fine job at conveying just how fast Bolt is on the track, something that’s pretty hard to capture through still images.
