He should have beaten Bolt at last year’s world championships, but Gatlin stumbled in the final meters.
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At some point, the medals will be distributed to the top men’s 100-meter finishers, cameras will go dark, and the stadium lights will dim.
It will take him to nine track and field gold to equal the flying Finn Paavo Nurmi, and Lewis.
After the pair leave these Olympics, a sport that is constantly trying to turn a corner will have no choice.
BEN YOUSSEF MEITE: The 29-year-old from Ivory Coast is a dark horse.
The finish line at Sunday’s 100-meter final could represent a changing of the guard.
He did just that in a first-round heat that was, typically, entertaining, given the low-pressure semi-sprint that it was.
Canada’s Andre De Grasse also impressed, the 21-year-old posting 10.04 sec.
Another new generation swimmer, Katie Ledecky, completed the first 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle treble since 1968 – and with a world record. He’s certainly not lacking for confidence. The fact that I have a medal from the Olympics is one of the best things which happen in my career. “I’ve been running since I was 6 years old”.
“It’ s like a soccer crowd in here”, Gatlin said. “These young guys coming up, it’s a different breed”, he said.
His shot at a 28th medal comes Saturday in the final slate of swimming at the Rio de Janeiro Games, where Usain Bolt thrilled the crowd at Olympic Stadium in his first appearance of the games and Rafael Nadal’s bid for an unprecedented second Olympic singles gold medal ended with a thrill-a-minute semifinal loss to Juan Martin del Potro. “So it’s going to be exciting”.
Track and Field: Men’s 100 meters semifinals (8 p.m., NBC) and final (9:25 p.m., NBC) – The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, looks to keep his flawless sprinting streak alive in his first final in Rio.
While doping dominated headlines in the months leading up to the Rio Olympics, Bolt said he feels the sport is finally pointed in the right direction.
“We’re weeding out the bad ones”, he said last week. “It’s excitement. We’re going to bring that to the track”.
In football, American goalkeeper Hope Solo lashed out at Sweden as “cowards”, as the 2004, 2008 and 2012 women’s gold medallists and reigning world champions went out 4-3 on penalties in the quarterfinals.
For Bolt to join them he will have to compete in Tokyo in four years time, but he consistently stated Rio will definitely be his last. Bolt strolled through the interview area with his usual relaxed demeanor; Gatlin responded to questions in tense bursts. “At this moment, I can not help but feel betrayed by a system that is not focused on keeping the sport clean and supporting rank-and-file athletes, but rather seeking victories outside sport arenas”. Bolt was slower out of the blocks but had time to see Bahrain’s Andrew Fisher was in front and easily overtook to clock 10.07.
“I’m feeling good. I’m happy”. The most decorated athlete in Olympic history has one more race before retirement. He’s the king until someone takes his crown.
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United States of America sprinter Justin Gatlin (left) in action at the 2016 Rio Olympics. “I praise the lord, the lord gives me everything”, she said through an interpreter when asked about the performance.
