Olympics 100m: First gold medal in three Olympics: 2008, 2012, 2016

15 สิงหาคม 2559

Jamaica's Usain Bolt, first to win in three Olympics, powered over finish line in 9.81sec to win the 100m gold in Rio.

OLYMPICS & SPRINTING

Olympics 100m: First gold medal in three Olympics: 2008, 2012, 2016

Jamaica's Usain Bolt powered over the finish line in 9.81sec to win the 100m gold in Rio
AFP News Agency
Olivier Morin

Usain Bolt roared into Olympic history, capturing an unprecedented third consecutive 100m crown to confirm his place in the pantheon of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen.

The 29-year-old Jamaican legend, competing in his final Olympics, powered over the finish line in 9.81sec, vanquishing drug- tainted American rival Justin Gatlin who took silver with Andre De Grasse of Canada claiming bronze.

Gatlin, who had been booed by the Rio crowd as he was introduced, crossed the finish line in 9.89sec with De Grasse just behind in 9.91.

Shot taken during the race. (Source: AFP)

Bolt galloped away in celebration after a superb win, basking in the adulation of the stadium and even taking selfies with fans during his lap of honour.

Victory. Usain Bolt makes gesture to the Olympics crowd after victory.

He then delighted the fans with his traditional "lightning bolt" pose as reggae music blasted out of the stadium sound system.

"It was brilliant. I didn't go so fast but I'm so happy I won. I told you guys I was going to do it," Bolt said.

Sprinters leave the starting blocks the moment after the starting pistol pistol fires.

FIRST TO WIN THREE SPRINT GOLD MEDALS

The victory left Bolt standing alone in the 120-year history of sprinting in the modern Olympic games.

No other athlete -- man or woman -- has ever won three consecutive individual Olympic sprint titles.

Bolt may win an incredible "triple-triple" of clinching 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles for a third consecutive Olympics.

Shot taken during the race. (Source: AFP)

Bolt, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion, had already earned the right to be regarded as the greatest sprinter in the history of athletics after accumulating more golds on the track than anyone else.

Usain Bolt clearly deserves to be ranked alongside the likes of Muhammad Ali, Pele and Michael Jordan as the kind of once-in-a- generation athlete who transcend their sports.