Jamaica's Usain Bolt (right) & Trinidadian Silver Medalist Richard Thompson (left)
Sunday August 17th, 2008: Beijing, China - Jamaica's Usain Bolt annihilated the field, running an amazing 9.69 seconds in the 100-metre sprint to set a new world record and take Olympic gold at Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing on Saturday night.
Bolt, who turns 22 on Thursday, exploded ahead of the pack and even took time to celebrate with his arms out with several metres left.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago won silver at 9.89, with Walter Dix of the United States taking bronze. Dix, an NCAA champion just out of school at Florida State, ran 9.91. Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles was fourth at 9.93.
Canadian Donovan Bailey's long-standing Olympic record fell as a result of the race in front of over 90,000. Bailey of Oakville, Ont., ran to gold in 9.84 at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Bailey symbolically placed an imaginary crown on Bolt's head after the race. Bailey said the sky's the limit for the sprinter, who gave Jamaica its first ever gold in the event. "He can absolutely run sub 9.6," said Bailey.
"I never knew how fast I was going," said Bolt. "One aim was just to win and do what I have to do." When asked about his celebration before the finish line, which may have cost him some time, Bolt said he was concerned about winning more than running the fastest possible. "Better to break it smaller than bigger, I would say," he said. "[Then] you have a next time to break it."
The other men competing in the final, in order of finish were: Michael Frater of Jamaica, Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago, and Darvis Patton of the U.S.
Bolt is expected to capture yet another gold in the 200metre race on Wednesday.
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