Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates as he crosses the line to win gold in the men’s 100-meter final during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday. As we saw in his 100m heat over the weekend, the Jamaican once again had time to ease up before the line, finishing with a time of 20.28 seconds. The fastest man in the world, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who won his third gold medal in the same event, has taken De Grasse under his wing.
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Earlier, Bolt had cruised through the morning heats and then ran the fastest time in the semi-finals.
Gatlin will have to face Bolt – and track and field fans – at least a few more times here, as Gatlin is competing in the 200-metre dash and the 4×100 relay.
The ten heats also featured Rio 2016 100m medallists Justin Gatlin of the United States of America and Andre de Grasse of Canada.
De Grasse was initially reluctant to embrace sprinting, but Sharpe convinced the high school student of his potential. It also cemented his status as one of the greatest sportsmen the world has ever seen.
“I don’t know who decided that”, Bolt said. “I’m exhausted now, but happy to be through”, Bolt said after his heat run.
Gatlin – second to Bolt in the 100m final – was also able to conserve plenty of energy as he clocked 20.42secs to come first in the fifth heat. I feel very proud and very happy.
Bolt posted a time of 9.86 seconds in the semi-final, and was in complete control of the race from the start.
That the god of sprints can age – he turns 30 next month – and slow down just a bit was apparent from what was the slowest of his three Olympic 100m sprints at Beijing, London and Rio. I’m exhausted now, but happy to be through. Last night when he flew past me with flawless technique and his huge stride, he looked back and smiled; I only had a moment to capture this epic Olympic moment, but I was in the right place, ready.
“I was nervous because the 200m is my favourite event”.
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Although well short of his world record 9.58 secs, Bolt said the break between the semifinals and final had been shorter than the runners are used to and he could not rest for long.
