Bolt might have already said he won’t compete in the 2020 games, so fans will surely cherish his presence on the world stage in the knowledge that all good things come to an end.
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And although it was the slowest time with which Bolt has won a major championship, it was enough to satisfy a crowd who chanted his name from the second he appeared on the big screen through to the moment he paraded the track draped in the Jamaican flag.
U.S Justin Gatlin was beaten to the gold by by 0.08 seconds while Canada’s Andre De Grasse took bronze with a personal best of 9.91.
Bolt will now switch his focus to the 200 meter and 4×100 relay as he attempts to win three golds for the third successive Games, an achievement he says will define his legendary career.
Twelve years after he claimed 100m gold at Athens 2004, Gatlin was unable to dethrone Bolt as the Olympic sprint king.
“Somebody said I can become immortal”, Bolt said after his latest win. I told you guys I was going to do it. Stay tuned. With seven Olympic medals between them, the pair have dominated the 100m in recent years, despite Gatlin serving two doping offences.
He also expressed shock at the fact that American Gatlin was treated to such a hostile reception saying: “It was the first time I’ve ever come into the stadium and they’ve actually booed somebody, so for me it was shocking, but I didn’t care about that”. “He is a fun, cool guy”. So as soon as we got around I didn’t get any time to rest, put my feet up and get the lactic [acid] out. And I have the respect of my own competitors in the 100m.
Asked if the race felt more special, given that it is likely to be his last Olympics, Gatlin replied: “Every Olympics is special but as you get older you understand the importance of running at Olympics”.
“But they don’t know me, they don’t know Justin. To be able to have the respect of my rivals who I line up with, that’s all I really care about”.
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Sadly, Nigeria was missing in all of the glamour of Day nine as it was more of a day to forget for the country’s athletes in Rio.
