Usain Bolt has done it again. The sprint superstar delivered another stirring performance to win the men’s 100 metres on Sunday in Rio and retain the title of “World’s Fastest Man”. Winning the race in 9.81 seconds, Bolt has secured his place as the greatest sprinter of all time. He is the only man or woman to win the Olympic 100 three times, which he accomplished at three consecutive Games. In doing so, the Jamaican showman has also restored the credibility and entertainment value of a sport that has been ravaged by doping scandals in recent times.
Bolt entered the Rio Olympics as something of a question mark, having dropped out of Jamaican Olympic qualifying five weeks before the Games with a nagging hamstring injury. But after being named in the Olympic team by the Jamaican track and field team, he has looked like his old self in Rio. His time was well short of his world record of 9.58 set in 2009 and his performance at Beijing and London Games, but good enough to beat Justin Gatlin in a field that was the fastest in 100-metre history.
In the final, Bolt got off to a slow start, while Gatlin looked to be closing in on a surprise gold. But then Bolt turned into his top gear, passing Gatlin and again crossing the line well ahead of the field. Crossing the line, Bolt had enough room to pound his chest in victory. Turning 30 the day these Olympics end, Bolt celebrated but not quite as exuberantly as he had in the past. There was no elaborately staged lightning bolt pose as soon as the race was over. Instead, he pointed to his chest and smiled and waved and ran, finally striking the famous pose for photographers well after he had won.
Bolt is also favoured to win a third gold medal at 200 metres in Rio and yet another as the most vital member of Jamaica’s 4x100-metre relay team. If he achieves the unprecedented triple-triple ” three golds in all three races in three Olympic Games ” he will have won nine Olympic gold medals. No one other than Michael Phelps has won more. If the result of the men’s 100 metres is a harbinger, Bolt looks set to achieve that.
Bolt will be nearly 34 by the time the Tokyo Olympics come calling. And while 34-year-old Gatlin became the oldest medallist in the 100 on Sunday night, it seems unlikely that Bolt will do that in 2020. Bolt has been an extraordinary athlete to watch, with his great speed, height, long strides and flamboyant personality. He has essentially been the Phelps of track since the 2008 Olympics, only much more entertaining. But after he finishes these Olympics, it is time to begin looking to the future -- and who might be the next Bolt.
