Usain Bolt won his ninth Olympic Games gold medal as he anchored Jamaica to victory in the men’s 4x100m relay in Rio. It now has 27 medals with two days to go, including 10 gold.
Advertisement
Bolt turns 30 this Sunday and would be 33 when the 2020 games kick off in Rio. Even though they were running from lane one, the USA women’s 4×100 foursome had a much smoother trip around the track, defending their Olympic title with a time of 41.01 seconds, a full 0.35 seconds ahead of the second-place Jamaican squad.
In the end, the U.S. battle didn’t matter at all, with the Americans getting disqualified, yet again, this time for a baton-exchange violation, resulting in Japan finishing second in 37.50 and Canada getting the bronze in 37.64. Surprise world runner-up China was upgraded to fourth.
He led the Jamaican 4x100m relay team to victory on Saturday night, pulling off a triple triple – three gold medals in three events at three consecutive Olympics. The women’s squad, which featured Courtney Okolo, Taylor Ellis-Watson, Francena McCorory and Phyllis Francis in the first round, has claimed the gold in the relay at every Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Games. Britain was third in 41.77.
Double Olympic gold medalist Maris Strombergs of Latvia collided with Britain’s former world champion Liam Phillips with neither going through to the semifinals.
Felix had been bumped in the preliminary heats and lost the baton, but the USA team protested and got a second chance – a solo re-run that allowed them to qualify on times. In the pole vault, Sandi Morris missed her third attempt at 4.90 meters by the smallest margin, allowing Stanford alum Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece to win at 4.85 on a countback.
“Then over the years I started making goals”, Bolt said.
With nine Olympic gold medals to his name thanks to his stunning exploits at Rio 2016, Usain Bolt is looking forward to a vacation. That second one [London 2012] was a challenge. “All that hard work just crumbles”, said Gatlin.
Usain Bolt salutes the crowd after winning gold in the 4x100m with Jamaica at the Rio Olympics. The relay race gave Bolt the Triple-Triple record that he set for himself on coming to Rio.
“It means a lot to me. I think they are more focused on beating Jamaica than running a proper race”. It’s getting ridiculous. I don’t know what it is, but I’m getting nervous. – Bolt’s parting statement at the end of his press conference after his 200 metres gold at London 2012.
He switched the baton from his left hand to the right, and flicked a switch.
The night’s main event, though was Bolt’s Olympic farewell. The U.S. team had 29 overall at the London Games four years ago, and 40 at the boycott-marred 1984 Los Angeles Games.
As a seasoned veteran, Lin is the one who best understands Lee’s efforts and wished him good luck. “So it gives me hope to show the world that the impossible is possible”.
Olympic champs Merlene Ottey and Veronica Campbell-Brown both preceded Bolt from the parish, as did Sanya Richards-Ross (who won gold running for the U.S.) and Ben Johnson (who won Olympic gold and set two world records before being banned for doping).
Advertisement
“I’m the first Indian woman to get a silver medal at the Olympics so that’s a great thing for me”, beamed Sindhu, 21.
