'Immortal': Usain Bolt comes from behind to defeat drug cheat Justin Gatlin and win a historic third Olympic gold medal in the 100m
- Bolt took the top spot after running the track in 9.81 seconds on Sunday night
- Gatlin took home the silver medal and Andre De Grasse of Canada nabbed the bronze
- Bolt is the first athlete to ever win the 100m three times - and at three straight Olympics
- He is now two races away from winning consecutive gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay
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They say lightning never strikes twice, but Usain Bolt deservedly called himself immortal after claiming the title of fastest man in the world three times in a row.
The Jamaican sprint legend emerged victorious in his grudge match against American Justin Gatlin to win his third successive gold medal in the 100m final race on Sunday night, running the track in 9.81 seconds.
Gatlin, who finished in 9.89 seconds, took home the silver medal while Andre De Grasse of Canada nabbed the bronze.
Usain Bolt won his third consecutive gold medal in the 100m final on Sunday night
The Jamaican sprint superstar beat out American Justin Gatlin for the gold
And he was quick to give the crowd exactly what they wanted - his signature lighting bolt pose
Bolt ran the track in 9.81 seconds, improving on his semifinal time from earlier that day
The fastest man in the world was quick to unleash his famous smile as he took the top spot once again
The race was billed as an epic head-to-head between Bolt and Gatlin, who has one Olympic gold medal and a career racked with drug controversy
It was an epic sprint for the line and midway Gatlin appeared to have got the better of Bolt.
But Bolt picked up and ran first over the line, his face immediately breaking into his signature showman smile.
'It was brilliant,' the legend said after his victorious run. 'I didn't go so fast but I'm so happy I won. I told you guys I was going to do it.'
It was the race the planet tuned into see and Bolt ensured he would become the first athlete to ever win the 100m three times - and at three straight Olympics.
Bolt is now just two races away from completing the ‘triple triple’ and winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
'Somebody said I can become immortal,' Bolt said after the race on Sunday. 'Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal.'
He grabbed his national flag and cheered and smiled back at his loving audience, soaking up their roaring cheers and applause.
Gatlin had been widely booed as he entered the track, a sound that shocked Bolt.
'That's the first time I've gone into a stadium and they've started to boo (Gatlin),' he said. 'It surprised me.’
But Bolt didn't stop to shake Gatlin's hand after the race, instead running another 100 yards around the track before later embracing De Grasse.
Despite the cold welcome, Gatlin still soaked in his silver medal victory and made his victory lap with the American flag draped around his shoulders.
'We work 365 days a year to be here for nine seconds,' Gatlin said after winning his third Olympic medal. 'At the age of 34, to race these young guys and still make the podium feels so good.'
'That was for my son. If he's watching…I love you, son.'
The race was billed as an epic head-to-head between Bolt and Gatlin, who has one Olympic gold medal and a career racked with drug controversy.
Bolt looked up to the sky as he prepared to begin his historic run on Sunday night
It was an epic sprint for the line and midway Gatlin appeared to have got the better of Bolt
For a brief heart-stopping second or two, it suddenly seemed like Gatlin's race to lose
But Bolt soon surged ahead of Gatlin and took away his chance at reclaiming the gold he won back in 2004
Bolt made sure his third Olympic gold didn't come down to a photo finish, crossing the line clear ahead of his rivals
Bolt was quick to celebrate with Canada's Andre De Grasse, who took home the bronze medal
Bolt wrapped himself in the Jamaican flag as he took his victory lap around the track
He happily joked around with the official Rio mascot as he soaked up the celebratory atmosphere
But Bolt proved in the semifinals that he wasn’t going to relinquish his title easily.
He appeared to be cantering along and mocking his opponents as first he looked to his right and then swung his head to his left to look at his rivals behind him, trying to keep pace.
Bolt crossed the line in 9.86 seconds, the fastest time in the three semifinal heats, with a huge grin and a point at the cameras, clearly saving his best for the final.
As he celebrated, Bolt took off his spikes and climbed up to the spectators to greet his family.
It took him a few minutes, but he delighted the crowd with his trade mark ‘Bolt’ signal
Bolt had received the loudest cheers inside the Olympic Stadium, while New Yorker Gatlin was booed and jeered when his name was called at the start.
Gatlin, evidently angry at his reception, crossed the line in 9.94secs and stormed off straight down the tunnel as the other runners stayed on the track shaking hands.
And Bolt dived into the stands to embrace and receive congratulations from his adoring fans
Bolt has always been a fan favorite and Sunday night proved no different as the crowd revered in his repeat victory
Bolt took off his shoes and held them up to the sky as he walked barefoot on the track where he made history once again
Bolt is now just two races away from completing the ‘triple triple’ and winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay
Bolt's victory was also redemption after a number of athletes, including Gatlin, believed he received a 'free pass' for being allowed to skip the Jamaican trials due to a hamstring injury
The 100m final was not only the most eagerly awaited event of Rio 2016, but a personal grudge match between the Jamaican and American ace sprinters.
Bolt, who will be 30 on Sunday, said Gatlin would 'feel his full wrath' when they finally came head-to-head on the Olympic track.
Bolt was unimpressed when Gatlin focused on the six-times Olympic gold medalist's slight injury worries earlier this summer, claiming the champion had been given 'a medical pass' to compete after missing the Jamaican trials.
'He's injured, gets a medical pass, that's what his country does. Our country doesn't do that,' Gatlin was quoted as saying in the American press.
Bolt, who was hailed as the savior of his sport after his 100m and 200m victories ahead of Gatlin at last year's World Championships in Beijing, soon hit back.
'For me I felt it was a joke - I felt it was a disrespect they think I'd back out of a trials,' he said.
'I've proven myself year on year that I'm the greatest. I laughed when I heard it. I was disappointed, especially in Justin Gatlin.'
'Somebody said I can become immortal,' Bolt said after the race. 'Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal'
Bolt took a celebratory selfie with heptathlon bronze medalist Brianne Theisen-Eaton, from Canada, silver medalist Jessica Ennis-Hill of Great Britain and gold medalist Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium
Bolt, who will be 30 on Sunday, said Gatlin would 'feel his full wrath' when they finally came head-to-head on the track
Gatlin struggled to remain stone-faced as he walked onto the track to a chorus of boos from the crowd
But Gatlin was all smiles after taking home silver, improving on the bronze medal he won in the London 2012 games
'We work 365 days a year to be here for nine seconds,' Gatlin said after winning his third Olympic medal. 'At the age of 34, to race these young guys and still make the podium feels so good'
Gatlin and Bolt's war of words began when the American claimed Bolt had been given a free pass for being allowed to skip the Jamaican Olympic trials because of an injury
Team US Olympic officials have pleaded for America to finally forgive Gatlin as he bid to become the fastest man in the world once again.
Gatlin won gold in 2004 in the Men's 100m final at the Athens games, but was later convicted of a doping offense and served a four-year ban, returning to competitive athletics on 2011.
It was the second controversy to descend on the 34-year-old track star, who went on to win silver in the London 2012 games, after he was banned in 2001 from international competition for two years.
He tested positive for amphetamines, but later successfully appealed that the positive test had been due to medication that he had been taking since his childhood, when he was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.
But the sprinter was not been able to shake off his accusers as he attempted to give Bolt a 'run for his money' after claiming bronze against the Jamaican in London.
And Gatlin's coaches were insistent that beating Bolt to the Olympic title should not be seen as a 'tainted gold.'
Tracy Sundlin, who is in charge of the US track and field men's team, told Daily Mail Online: 'That would be wrong. Justin is a remarkably talented athlete who clearly made a mistake at some point.'
'He has paid dearly for that mistake. He has owned up to that mistake.'
'If people saw what he is doing and the amount of effort… if they saw his heart, I think they would feel as I do.'
'People do forget how truly special a talent he was. He was a world class hurdler as well as a sprinter.'
'He has done things that people don't understand and appreciate.'
Bolt proved in the semifinals that he wasn’t going to relinquish his title easily, cracking a wide smile as he sailed first through the finish line
The legend crossed the line in 9.86 seconds, the fastest time in the three semifinal heats, with a huge grin and a point at the cameras, clearly saving his best for the final
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3740762/Usain-Bolt-wins-Olympic-gold-medal-100m.html#ixzz4HMxl1BDx
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