Gatlin, the 2004 champion who came into the race with the season’s fastest time of 9.80, took second in 9.89.
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Spencer’s image is probably set to be the most iconic of a career that has been spent in front of the cameras, although Bolt gave the world plenty more colorful material before and after his race on Sunday night.
Few Olympians will have experienced a welcome as hostile as the one afforded to the American.
The American is well known to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for his crimes, and has been banned twice already for doping offences, which explains why he was booed.
Coupled with the scenes of wild celebration was an overwhelming sense of relief.
Usain Bolt wins the 100-meter at the Rio Olympics.
The Puma-sponsored Jamaican sprinter became the first person to win three straight gold medals in the 100-meter event.
Victory on a warm night at the Olympic Stadium left Bolt a 200m victory and a 4x100m relay success away from completing his mission.
He said: “Somebody said if I win these three gold medals I would be immortal and I kind of liked it”. However, it appears that the 34-year-old wasn’t too happy with his cold reception at the Olympic Stadium.
Appearing at his fourth Olympics, Gatlin picked up a fifth medal – albeit not the one he had hoped for.
Bolt enjoyed overwhelming support from the Rio crowd while Gatlin was roundly jeered.
“They are excited, I understand that”.
“It was surprising. I’ve never heard, I’ve never seen it happen before”, Bolt said. I work very hard and I have the respect of my competitors. “He is a fun, cool guy”.
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“There is no bad blood”. I’m a competitor. He is a competitor and has pushed me to become the athlete I am today. “But for me I didn’t care about that”.
