A perennial finalist in the sprints at world championships and Olympic Games, the 26-year-old had never won an individual medal at either event until Thursday, with his lone previous Olympic medal being a relay bronze from London four years ago.
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The 29-year Jamaican timed 19.78 seconds for gold.
“I wanted to run a faster time”, said the sprinter, who turns 30 on the night of the closing ceremony. I did but I lost some form at the end but it has been a fantastic season. Usain Bolt (JAM) of Jamaica reacts as he runs ahead of Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) of France, LaShawn Merritt (USA) of USA, Andre De Grasse (CAN) of Canada and Alonso Edward (PAN) of Panama.
“I’ve proven to the world that I’m the greatest and that’s what I came here for”, he said, sounding for a moment like Ali himself.
“I don’t need to prove anything else”, Bolt said.
“He’s a championship man, he’s an unbelievable guy”, Lemaitre said.
“I had the pleasure of being in the same era as Usain Bolt”.
Ashton Eaton has become nearly as dominant in the decathlon as Bolt is in the sprints but the American was happy to defer to Bolt after retaining his title.
“I think there’s a way to make this event wildly entertaining for spectators”, Eaton said, pondering his future. “For us to have done this together, I can’t word it”. The Jamaican already captured the 100-meters, and looked to take another step to immortality in his preferred distance of 200-meters.
Denmark’s Sara Slott Petersen won the silver medal ahead of Ashley Spencer of the US, with world champion Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic managing only fourth.
Caster Semenya of South Africa, the outright favorite for the women’s 800-meter title, qualified for the final as she breezed to victory in her semifinal heat, pretty much unchallenged, in 1 minute 58.15 seconds.
“Hopefully I made them proud and happy – I am just disappointed I couldn’t get a medal for them”.
“I honestly don’t know”, Doyle, a member of the 4x400m relay team, said of her performance. He’s got one race to go, the 400 relay on Friday.
“But it’s just because I’m getting older”.
Way up ahead, Bolt gave every ounce of effort – no hot-dogging or celebrating early as was his wont in some of his best 100s – his arms pumping hard, face twisted with pain and effort as he hugged the left edge of his lane and approached the line.
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As Guns N’Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” blasted out, huge cheers greeted Bolt, wearing black lycra shorts and a singlet in the green, gold and black colours of Jamaica. “Technically, it was a ideal race”, he said. “One day, I’m going to have to meet Daley, shake his hand and thank him for giving me something to chase after”, Eaton told reporters after tearfully embracing his Canadian wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton who won the bronze medal in the women’s heptathlon.
