Usain Bolt is the fastest runner alive, but he nearly lost a step in his latest race – which was a phot finish classic.
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At the world championships in Daegu four years ago, Bolt false-started in the final of the 100, the only blot on his record of perfection since winning three gold medals with as many world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The race was all the more exciting because of how close it was and Bolt said the win means a lot to him because of his struggles throughout the season.
Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was just one-hundredth of a second off Bolt, taking silver in 9.80 with fellow American Trayvon Bromell and Canadian Andre de Grassse awarded bronze medals after both timing 9.92. Bolt ran his season best of 9.79, Gatlin finished in 9.80.
Ahead of Sunday’s final, letsrun.com reported that sports book officially had Gatlin as the favourite. It should be a shame on people and reporters who put that pressure on Usain and put that pressure on me, and anybody else in that situation.
Bolt joins Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene as the only men to win three 100m World Championship titles and will aim to complete yet another sprint double in the 200m on Thursday.
As Gatlin eased into the finals with two impressive runs, Bolt looked in danger of falling after a poor start in his semi-final before steadying himself and claiming a narrow victory. It has been rough but I have pulled through it. Before the race, my coach told me one thing – Gatlin always shows up for the big races.
“I stumbled in the last five metres, my arms got a little flaily”, he said. “But as I said, I wanted to do it for myself”. Gatlin seemed to defend his lead until the final 15 metres, when Bolt shifted gears and beat his rival on the line. Without it being so flawless, Gatlin would unquestionably have won, and with that his past doping offences would have lit up the story, much more than anything about the race itself.
Usain Bolt beats Justin Gatlin in 100m final – as it happened!
Britains Ennis-Hill, returning to the sport after giving birth previous year and a battle with niggling injuries, was all but gift-wrapped the gold medal after Johnson-Thompson failed to post a mark in the long jump. It was a big deal.
“I came here to add to my legendary status and to win and to continue my championship ride”.
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“The last five metres were crucial here, I leaned too far forward coming to the finish line and caught myself off-balance”. Silver went to Dilshod Nazarov of Tajikistan for his 78.55 throw, beating Wojciech Nowicki who took bronze on 78.55, but had poor results on the other attempts.
