Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the Olympic 100 metres on Saturday, shattering the world record in the process with a time of 9.69 seconds.
Bolt thumped his chest in celebration as he crossed the line, after leaving Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago (silver) and American Walter Dix (bronze) trailing at the Bird’s Nest Stadium.
Asafa Powell finished out of the medals, while Tyson Gay was eliminated in the semi-finals.
Bolt had looked capable of running an extremely fast time as he ambled through the heats and so it proved in Beijing on Saturday as he pulled off a win that will live long in the memory.
But what do you think of his achievement? Let us know in the comments. We’ll have more on this later, but for now, here’s another photo:
Reuters photos: Gary Hershorn (top), Jerry Lampen (bottom)
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I just want to respond to a few things. When Americans hold or break records they are suspect. Over the last few years there have been many medals taken away because of “perfomance enhancers”. Secondly, no if an Gay was participating in the finals it would not have been shown live. For NBC it is about money, there was no way the would show it live at 10:30 in the morning as opposed to waiting to show it in prime time TV.
- Posted by GARRETTBOLT GON WITH THE GOLD AT BEIJING>
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL WE (JAMAICA) HAVE PRODUCE THE BEST SPRINTERS FOR YEARS BUT WITHOUT THE CASH OR SPONORSHIP WE GOT LOST IN THE SYSTEM . WE HAVE THE BEST SPRINTERS IN THE WORLD PERIOD > JUST TAKE A LOOK AT PENN RELAYS EVERY YEAR> AND WHEN SAY EVERY YEAR YES REALY IT IS EVERY IT REALY IS EVERY YEAR > THAT SAYS IT ALL MY BOOK > WE SHOULD HAVE WE HAD MORE GOLD MEDALS IN WORLD AND OLYMPIC CHAMPIONSHIP IN PAST . BUT >HMM DRUGS
- Posted by LC >HMMBUT DRUG USE BYE HMM
Yow, Welcome to Jam Rock… Bolt is demon possessed. Albeit good demons… the only thing can stop him is an exorcism. One Love, Bob Marley forever.
- Posted by EdgarWhat a mind blowing performance for Bolt. Asafa was not psychologically ready for the big race but I’m sure you will have a record soon and share in the joy with the lighting Bolt.
- Posted by DaronnJamaicans faaaassss nuh raasssss!!!
- Posted by snoopyBig up to Usain! We know he had it in him, I think he slowed down to keep himself safe for the 200m. I’m sorry Jamaica missed out on the 1-2, but at least we had another Caribbean athlete in the mix.
I’m sorry for Powell, but he really needs to get his thing going and stop choking at these big events. I wonder if NBC would have carried this race live had Gay been in the finals??
Now we are hearing everyone come out of the woodwork talking about “drug cheats”. Why don’t we ever hear this when anyone from the USA breaks records?!?!
- Posted by Yardie BThe fact that he celebrated and did a little showboating before he crossed the line makes the win and the record even more special. True, he could have held his form and run through to an even more amazing time. But that matters little. He is Olympic champion, world record holder and now he has the world wondering how fast he can really go.
- Posted by WayneA great race. Congratulations,Usain. Another proud Jamaican momment.
- Posted by Sherryl GWhat a race it was !!! Had not Bolt slowed a little in the end before the finish, he would have propably made 9.65 or even less. he was just looking to his right and slowed !! Anyway he is still the world record holder !!
- Posted by VenkatGreat !!!!!!!!!!!!!
wondering what he could have achieved if he had done his possible. he looked as if it was so easy. that did make the moment more memorable.
- Posted by A Beijingerdavid anderson….it is called the american spirit
- Posted by isaac kiplagatUSAUN to di worl!! win di gold fi wi country Jamaica!! go deh my ute!!
- Posted by Ruthiebravo for bolt!!!!! this guy has yet to show his full potential. Can u imagine when he peaks? God bless him, he’s incredible.
- Posted by mothapeppaOne of the great moments ever and not on TV???!!???
- Posted by jfWhat the deal with the USA (or should I say NBC) not carrying the race live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank God that I am in Canada and not like my relatives and friends who I had to give the blow by blow to over the phone.
That sucks but that is the US for ya!
- Posted by David AndersonAnyone have a video of the race? youtube or other?
- Posted by VictorFinally the truth of Caribbean sprinting is imprinting itself on the world. For years we had to settle for minor places behind the drug cheats, who won Olympic titles under false pretences. Thank you IAAF and IOC for introducing these stringent testing rules.
Congratulations Usain and Richard! Powell we still love you. Congrats also to Frater, for a PB. Well done all.
- Posted by WayneAnd I agree with Flo. Can’t we just enjoy this for now, for what it was?
- Posted by Kevin Fylani know from which country the papers are talking about drug cheat stuff!!!…aha…Bolt is a freak of nature…..God’s second son he has given the world
- Posted by isaac kiplagatBrian, did they really not show this live in the U.S. I can’t understand that at all. This was history, and was always going to be.
- Posted by Kevin Fylan