Bolt, of course, was unmatchable again, as he gained his ninth gold medal over three Olympics by anchoring the Jamaican 4×100 relay home.
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In basketball, the United States and Serbia will meet each other in the Olympic Final.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt greets fans as he celebrates winning gold in the men’s 4 x 100-meter relay final, during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. That would need no explanation.
The man who transcended track and became a world-class celebrity bid a blazing-fast farewell to the Rio de Janeiro Games and, he insists, the Olympics altogether Friday night with yet another anchor leg for the ages.
“There you go”, he said. “I am the greatest”. The Americans were protesting the ruling, and as 3 a.m. Saturday approached in Brazil, there was no word on the outcome.
“It was the twilight zone”.
To add insult to injury, Justin Gatlin and his team mates had completed a full lap of honour draped in American flags, dancing and posing for photos, before being informed they were out. “It’s been wonderful and I really appreciate you guys. All that hard work just crumbles”.
A third straight 100m, 200m and 4x100m clean sweep put Bolt alongside Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi on nine track and field Olympic golds.
The disqualification will cause more hand-wringing in the States.
WRESTLING UPSET: Defending Olympic and world champion Jordan Burroughs was stunned in the quarterfinals of men’s freestyle wrestling.
“You never knew from the start that this was going to happen to me, and now it has”, he said.
“Pressure!” as Bolt, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade burst into laughter. The United States finished in third place, but were disqualified for an illegal baton change.
With 70 meters to go, it was over.
It was the ninth time since 1995 that the US team has been disqualified from a relay at an Olympics or world championship. He also owns the records in the 100 (9.58) and 200 (19.19).
“And they did exactly that, I had no work to do, just to run to the line”. T he first one (in Beijing in 2008) I was just happy, the second one (in London in 2012) was a challenge, and then to come here and do the third one is just unbelievable. It’s come true. The pressure is real. “I look at it as an accomplishment”.
Musical selection for Bolt’s final parade around the track: Bob Marley’s “Jammin”.
“Usain Bolt could be minister of anything he wants”, he said. “It’s hard to explain”. Unlike the reggae great, who died of cancer at 36, Bolt has the option of planning his next career move. In one of the biggest surprises of the track program, Japan took silver – and had been leading before Bolt got the baton.
George Freeman, 54, who was born in Kingston and now lives in Miami, said that Bolt had done much to improve Jamaica’s profile on the world stage.
USA beats Italy for gold in women’s water polo: RIO DE JANEIRO – Ashleigh Johnson made nine saves, Kiley Neushul scored three goals on four shots and the United States routed Italy 12-5 for its second straight Olympic gold medal in women’s water polo.
After crossing the line for the last time, Bolt pumped his fist in the air, slowed down and took off those famous gold spikes. He huddled with his teammates and they prayed. When the final seconds ticked off, Krikorian walked over to congratulate Italy coach Fabio Conti, and then was tackled into the pool by a couple of his jubilant players. “If I can stay healthy this whole year, I think I have a good shot at him”, said the Canadian.
Breaking his silence Friday, Lochte said he was sorry for his behavior surrounding an early-morning incident at a gas station that in many ways has become the defining moment in Rio.
“I was just watching them and praying they didn’t mess up”, said Bolt, who turns 30 when the Rio Games close on Sunday.
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