Usain Bolt bid a blazing-fast farewell to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and probably the Olympics altogether, Friday night with yet another anchor leg for the ages.
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The win means Bolt, who turns 30 today, has become the first man in history to complete the “triple-triple” – in the USA dubbed the “threepeat” – by winning the 100m, 200m and sprint relay titles at three consecutive Olympic Games. He is the only Olympian to ever accomplish this feat.
“My team came through for me tonight”, said Bolt after the race.
Bolt, 29, had won the 100m and 200m in Rio and is the only man to win all three sprint events at three Games.
Bolt and his compatriots, Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmease, bossed the race to win in 37.27 seconds.
It turns out one of Usain’s Bolt’s final athletic acts in an Olympic Stadium would be throwing a javelin, not sprinting. “A lot of people will try to attack her, so I tell her to just take it easy and let’s make sure that you’re ready for this”. However, Bolt’s teammates were undoubtedly a huge help in his gaining that “triple triple” medal victor title as they ensured that each baton pass was as smooth as possible and for the most part, maintaining a lead on each leg of the journey. This promoted Canada to the bronze medal.
USA Track & Field said early Saturday morning that it had appealed the decision.
“I’ve done it and it’s unreal”.
Gatlin spoke on his team’s disqualification.
“They really came through for me and I’m happy to have done what I came here to do”.
“I was just watching them and praying that they didn’t mess up”, said Bolt, about the Jamaican teammates during the relay.
The 2016 Rio Olympics results showed Japan trailing after the Jamaican team, winning silver. I came through and I’m just proud of myself.
On his role beyond sport in Jamaica: I’m a great ambassador. I’m definitely going to miss the crowd and the energy and just the competition.
Three Olympics, three races at each, three gold medals every time. I’m not 26 any more, I’m not 21!
“I’m the greatest.” In media interviews after winning his last gold medal, Bolt clarified that this was in fact his last Olympics.
Cheruiyot timed her attack with less than two laps to go, suddenly closing a big gap Ayana had opened and speeding away for gold in 14 minutes 26.17 seconds, just over 14 seconds better than the previous Olympic mark.
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“It’s hard work, sweat and sacrifice”, he said on what was behind his achievements.
