As he blazed through the Rio Games, winning an historic third batch of three sprint gold medals, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt was clear this is his last time on the Olympic track, where he feels he has nothing left to prove.
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Trayvon Bromell’s dip for the line was so aggressive that he tumbled over but the United States still thought they were settling for bronze in 37.62.
Felix had been bumped in the preliminary heats and lost the baton, but the US team protested and got a second chance – a solo re-run that allowed them to qualify on times.
This marked the ninth time since 1995 the US men have been disqualified or failed to get the baton around at Olympics or world championships.
The Japanese team was technically flawless and had the lead going into the last baton change, but Bolt pulled away, as he has done so often, in what is most likely to be his last run at the Olympics.
I’m proud of myself and I have to give thanks to the guys (teammates Asafa Powell, Nickel Ashmeade and Yohan Blake).
The win marks the “triple triple” for Bolt, meaning he’s won gold at the men’s 100-meter, 200-meter and 4 x 100-meter relay three times in a row.
“There you go. I’m the greatest”, said the Jamaican, who kissed the finish line as he played to the crowd and the cameras. At the 1952 Helsinki Games, Zatopek, widely considered the most innovative if not best runner of the 20th century, won the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon – that marathon his first-ever. “So, I’m happy. I have relief it’s over”. We’ll definitely miss his giant grin and incredible speed if this truly is his last Olympics. 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.
The Americans cruised to an Olympic title, beating Italy 12-5 to become the first ever women’s water polo team to win back-to-back gold medals. “Simple mistakes always cost us”, – Tyson Gay was far from impressed with the disqualification of the U.S. 4x100m relay team.
Although we watched everything from swimming to basketball to gymnastics together as per tradition, we counted down the days until track began at the Bird’s Nest.
“That’s insane! I don’t know what to say, hey, I’m proud of these guys man that’s all I can say”, exclaimed Haynes, moments after learning of the DQ. I’ll definitely miss it, but I’ve done all I can do.
The Americans, who needed to set a qualifying time in a solo rerun, hours after dropping the baton in the preliminaries and getting a second chance on protest, won the final in 41.01 seconds.
The men’s 100 meter heats were our first glimpse of Usain Bolt.
For Allyson Felix, who featured in both teams, it was a golden finale to an Olympics where her early season ambitions of completing a 200m/400m double had come down to a silver medal in the 400m. Jamaica won the gold medal.
Bolt insisted all of his gold medals were special.
Bolt bursts ahead of the pack as he anchors Jamaica to victory.
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They produced a time fast enough to make the final – replacing China – and then from lane one in the gold medal race they delivered an extraordinary performance, clocking the second fastest time in history 41.01sec. “I will encourage him to come back for 2020”.
