Jamaica claimed a third successive Olympic gold in the men’s 4×100 metre relay to ensure Usain Bolt achieved his goal of completing a sensational “triple-triple”. He turned a close 4×100 relay race against Japan and the United States into a runaway, helping Jamaica cross the line in 37.27 seconds.
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That leaves Bolt with an unprecedented nine golds in nine career Olympic races, including victories in the 200 and 100 this week.
In a city reviled for its inequality and where the $12 billion spent on the Olympics are said to have done little to help the poor, Bolt’s visit is a small example of the legacy Rio’s Games might still have for aspiring athletes.
It marked the ninth time since 1995 that the US men have been disqualified or failed to get the baton around at the Olympics or world championships.
“There’s no one on the anchor leg who can outrun me when we get the baton”.
“I’ve worked hard every Olympics to win three gold medals, I’ve proven to the world I’m the greatest”, he said.
My fans you guys never doubted me a min and for that I belong to you guys forever #blessed, read his another tweet.
The plan is for him to sign off his career at next year’s International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in London, but he has said that if he does so, he will probably just run the 100m and the relay.
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.
“You work so hard with your team-mates for that moment when you can come together”. The 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.
Since he electrified the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing with his opening flourish of a 100m in a world record time of 9.69sec, Bolt has been at the epicentre of the Olympics’ centrepiece sport, and he is not just a hard but an impossible act to follow.
It was only nearly single-handedly, though, as his three Olympic relay titles, two in world record times, always required the input of his fellow Jamaican speedsters.
“It means a lot to me”.
Skelton, also the oldest gold medalist at the Rio Games so far, topped Klaus Balkenhol of Germany who was 56 when he won a gold in team dressage at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Expect a high-quality climax to the women’s hockey completion when the Netherlands takes on Great Britain. “I’ve sacrificed so much throughout the season, throughout the years, I’ve been through so much”.
This is her fourth Olympics.
The US looked to have earned bronze in 37.62, only to be disqualified for reasons that were not immediately clear, elevating Canada (37.64) onto the podium.
The US finished second but were disqualified, promoting Japan into silver and Canada up to bronze. Jamaica won the gold medal.
“I am just relieved”.
“I’m going to miss the crowd”.
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“There you go. I’m the greatest”, said the Jamaican, who kissed the finish line as he played to the crowd and the cameras. He will retire after next year’s World Championships in London. “Nine gold medals, words can’t even describe what he’s done for the sport”.
