Bolt out-gunned in 100m final by Gatlin
Controversial American Justin Gatlin has rained on Usain Bolt’s farewell parade by beating the Jamaican super sprinter in the men’s 100m final at the athletics world championships in London.
Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, claimed the victory in 9.92 seconds.
Fellow American and fastest qualifier Christian Coleman was second in 9.94 and Bolt was third in 9.95.
It was the final individual race for the 30-year-old Jamaican at an Olympics or world championships, although he will get one more shot at a title in London in the 4x100m relay next weekend.
‘‘[The crowd reception] was wonderful - I never expected this,’’ Bolt said.
‘‘It’s just a wonderful experience.
‘‘London - I really appreciate the support you have given me.
‘‘I’m just really sorry I couldn’t end up winning.’’
Apart from a false start in the world 100m final six years ago in Daegu which gifted the title to countryman Yohan Blake, Bolt had been unbeaten in 100m and 200m finals at global championships dating back to 2008.
Gatlin had gone closer than anyone to ending that streak at the 2015 world titles in Beijing, when he was edged out by one hundredth of a second in the 100m decider.
The 2004 Olympic champ finally got his man yesterday.
NCAA champion Coleman was expected to provide the stiffest challenge to Bolt but it was the 35-year-old Gatlin who caused the boilover.
Gatlin, 35, had been booed by the capacity crowd before the race but Bolt was quick to embrace the American in the aftermath.
‘‘I tuned it out through the rounds and stayed the course,’’ Gatlin said. ‘‘I did what I had to do.
‘‘The people who love me are here cheering for me and cheering at home. ‘‘It is Bolt’s last race. ‘‘I have had many victories and many defeats down the years. The first thing [Bolt] did was congratulate me and say that I didn’t deserve the boos. ‘‘He is an inspiration.’’ Bolt – who has held the world record of 9.58 sec since 2009 – recorded his fastest time of the season, but it was only enough for a bronze medal.
Gatlin, who set his personal best of 9.74m in Doha two years ago, has been on the world scene since 2001 when he received a twoyear ban (later reduced to one year) for testing positive.
He returned to competition to win the 2004 Olympic Games gold medal in Athens and backed up by winning the world championships 100m title in Helsinki in 2005.
Prior to his London victory, Gatlin had been the silver medallist behind Bolt in five major world championship and Olympic Games finals, including the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2015 world championships in Beijing.
Billed by commentators in the pre-race buildup as the greatest athlete of all time, Bolt took his defeat in his stride, performing a farewell lap of the stadium where he won three Olympic Games gold medals in 2012, and treating the crowd to his trademark Lightning Bolt salute.
Coleman – the fastest 100m runner on the planet this season with 9.82sec – confirmed his promise with the silver medal.
The 21-year-old shapes as the early favourite to take over Bolt’s Olympic Games gold medallist mantle in Tokyo in 2020.