Sprint king Bolt achieved a “triple-triple” by anchoring Jamaica to a runaway gold in Friday’s 4x100m final, but was then asked about the possibility of being stripped of one of his medals.
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The world’s fastest man led the Jamaican team to a spectacular victory on Friday night in the 4x100m men’s relay – earning the sprinter his ninth gold medal in total.
“There you go. I’m the greatest”, said Bolt, after bringing an end to one of the most astonishing Olympic careers of all time.
“I’m just happy to have done what I came here to do”, Bolt said “I’m just proud of myself”.
“I’m sad but I’m happy too”, he said.
“I’ve done it and it’s unreal. I never knew this would happen when I started out”, Bolt told BBC Sport.
It initially appeared that Ayana would go for a second world record, after already setting a new mark in the 10,000 on the opening morning of the track program last week.
Andre de Grasse of Canada, who pushed Bolt to the finish line in the semi-finals, finished second in 20.02 while Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre clocked 20.12 for the bronze, the same time as Adam Gemili of Great Britain.
Bolt has pledged to win three gold medals at Rio 2016 after winning three golds at Beijing 2008 and another three golds at London 2012.
Indeed, that is the justification Bolt uses for his decision to make Rio his last Olympics, though he has committed to running at next year’s world championships. “Both. It’s a mixed feeling”. “I will encourage him to come back for 2020”.
Bolt, who beat Canadian Andre De Grasse and Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre into second and third, finished almost six tenths shy of his world record.
Mike Rodgers who was on the starting blocks for the Americans was penalized for changing the baton with Gatlin who ran the second leg outside the take-over zone.
It’s great to be in the history books as one of the greatest. Only the winning American 40.82, a world record from London, is faster.
Usain Bolt won an unprecedented third straight Olympic sprint double, with victory in the 200 metres late Thursday night.
“If anything”, Eaton said, referring to Bolt, “he has provided a platform for all the other young aspiring athletes to launch from”, adding, “In the years to come, I think we’ll see a lot of athletes who were inspired by Usain Bolt”.
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Nickel Ashmeade, who ran the third leg and handed over to Bolt, said the team had been relaxed about the event.
