Reuters
Rio de Janeiro, August 19: The incomparable Usain Bolt once again proved utterly unbeatable on the Olympic track here Thursday, powering his way to a third straight 200 metres gold and remaining on course for an extraordinary ‘triple-triple’ of sprint titles.
Bolt’s time of 19.78 seconds was the slowest of his four straight World Championship and three Olympic triumphs over the distance but it certainly did not dampen the celebrations.
He struck his signature lightning bolt pose to a huge cheer from the crowd and draped Brazilian and Jamaican flags over his shoulders as he performed his lap of honor to chants of ‘Usain Bolt! Usain Bolt! Usain Bolt!.’
“I don’t need to prove anything else. What else can I do to prove to the world I am the greatest?” Bolt told reporters. “I am trying to be one of the greatest. Be among (Muhammad) Ali and Pele. I hope to be in that bracket after these Games.”
Canadian Andre de Grasse, who also won bronze behind Bolt in the 100m, finished second in 20.02s to claim his second sprint medal of the Games and establish himself as the heir apparent to the ‘Sprint King’.
Christophe Lemaitre of France was ecstatic with his bronze medal after edging out a shattered Adam Gemili of Britain in a photo finish. Both were awarded the same time of 20.12s.
Even the prospect of witnessing a once-in-a-century athlete in his pomp was not enough to fill the Olympic Stadium here but what the crowd lacked in numbers, they made up for in noise as they welcomed Bolt to the track like a rock star.
The great showman responded in kind by playing air guitar and swaying to the music while smiling and nodding straight into the TV camera.
Beaten only once in nine years in his favourite event, the Jamaican had said he thought the world record of 19.19s he set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin was within reach. It was not to be.
Head down and hands pumping away as he built up speed over the first 30 metres, Bolt rounded the bend with a clear lead but was unable charge to the line as fast as he wanted, even if he did finish three metres clear of De Grasse.
“I ran hard around the turn,” informed Bolt. “On the straight, my body didn’t respond. I’m getting old. My legs told me they can’t run faster.”
