Bolt s eerie win over rival Gatlin
USAIN Bolt has well and truly cemented his legendary status after winning his 11th individual world or Olympic sprint title from a possible 12 since he took track and field by storm at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The 29-year-old Jamaican shot to fame seven years ago at the Bird s Nest when he blasted to victories in the 100m and 200m before going on to anchor his country s 4x100m relay team for a third gold.
He repeated the feat at the London Olympics and has also swept all world titles in Berlin in 2009, Moscow 2013 and now in Beijing, his only blip came in the 100m in Daegu, South Korea, in 2011 when he had a false start.
On Thursday, Bolt clocked a world-leading 19.55 seconds to beat Justin Gatlin by nearly two-tenths to add the 200m to his 100m title.
Bolt s phenomenal prowess belied a tricky season in which he sat out six weeks of competitive sprinting because of pelvic joint stress.
But he insisted that the 200m was his baby and that he had been riled by pre-race comments from Gatlin, who has served two doping bans but is in the form of his life at the age of 33.
It was never in doubt to me,” Bolt said. I was feeling better through the runs and was running myself into shape. The only worry I had was the fact I wasn t race sharp.
I wasn t worried,” he said of the 200m. I knew I had to get through the 150 first and I ran my hardest and got it done after the first 150 I looked across and I could see that Justin Gatlin was tired so it was never a doubt that I was going to win the race.”
Bolt savoured the moment after plunging the dagger into Gatlin for a second time.
Why I really celebrated was that Justin Gatlin said earlier in the week that he was going to bring out something special for the 200m but I thought You don t talk about my 200m like that so I had to prove to him that I m number one.”
Thursday s race had it all. A build-up like a boxing match, instadium presenters hyping up each racer in the hot, humid conditions. The eerie, nerveracking silence when 50 000 spectators fall quiet for the starter s orders and boom!” the crack of the starting pistol, creaking blocks pressed hard into the track as the eight sprinters burst into life.
Then the jaw-dropping sight of Bolt at full tilt around the bend and the mesmerising moment seconds later when the Jamaican hit the final straight, unfurling his 1.96m frame to burst clear.
One sharp look leftwards was all it took for Bolt to know he had smashed Gatlin, who has refused to speak to some media for their portrayal of the rivalry as a battle of good against evil in the world of clean sport and doping.
Two arms extended, Bolt thumbed his chest, as he clocked the 10th fastest-ever time and the quickest he had run since the London Games.
Track fans can only hope Bolt will be at the Rio Olympics next year. At his best, the showman is the biggest advert for clean athletics there ever will be.
But Bolt himself then cast doubt on his participation at the next world championships in London in 2017.
So it s all about how I feel after Rio, if I feel I can really put my body through one more season. If I m going to be focused and I m going to be determined. That will determine if I compete after Rio. So we ll see how it goes.”