Before Bolt, only American Carl Lewis had won Olympic gold twice in the 100 – and his second came after the disqualification of Canadian Ben Johnson.
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Gatlin, against any other competitor in his era, would be the Usain Bolt of the world. I’m just happy that I won and that’s the key thing. “Stay tuned, two more to go”.
Not going fast is a matter of perspective. With a man of his athletic talent, it’s the fact that Bolt can overcome a bad start to blitz the field in the way he did that makes him so special.
In doing so, he delivered another statement against doping at the sport’s highest level, relegating his biggest rival in tainted U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin to silver.
“That’s the first time I’ve gone into a stadium and they’ve started to boo”, Bolt said. But fans in the stadium bought into the “Good vs”.
“A true, true warrior of the sport”, said Yohan Blake, the Jamaican who used to be his main rival.
But it certainly was Bolt at his most entertaining.
It was the sweet culmination of a hard season for Bolt with a hamstring injury and lack of form raising questions on his ability to defend his Olympic titles. Like most sporting events, the Olympics are star-driven and fortunate to have him.
Bolt wasn’t the only one putting on a show. Perhaps most importantly, it is nearly impossible to watch him perform without smiling.
Bolt made his Olympic debut as a 17-year-old at Athens 2004, where, hampered by a torn hamstring, he went out in the opening round of the 200m.
This was only Part One for Bolt in these Olympics.
“Somebody said I can become immortal”.
The Jamaican now looks to clean up in the longer sprint and relay later in the week.
Gatlin was second in 9.89 seconds. Andre De Grasse, 21, of Canada was third in 9.91.
Bolt added the Rio gold medal to the ones he won in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. His longevity is as impressive as his stride.
Later Sunday, Andy Murray tries to become the first man to win two singles gold medals in tennis and at track, a showdown in the 400 final pits LaShawn Merritt, Kirani James and Wayde van Niekerk.
In 2006, Gatlin was caught doping with excessive testosterone in his system. “To come back. and win it three times”.
Gatlin, who once trained in Raleigh, will tell anyone who asks now that he served his time and that he also believes in the drug-testing system.
Klay Thompson ended an Olympic-long slump with seven 3-pointers and 30 points, and the USA needed nearly all of them to hold off France 100-97 in basketball. “They shouldn’t. It is unfortunate we have to see that”.
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Bolt brings no such baggage to his races.
