Not that I had any doubts, but: Bolt is now history in Rio with third successive Olympics 100m gold medal

The 6-foot-5 sprinter overcame his typically slow unfurling from the blocks, gradually worked up speed, caught American Justin Gatlin with 40 metres left and was celebrating – pointing at his chest with his thumb – before he crossed the finish line. He even took the time to look both to his right and left to ensure that no one was trying to take that gold off him.

bolt wins thirds

Bolt beat Gatlin, who was greeted by the fans with raucous boos due to his past of doping, by .08 seconds. Andre de Grasse of Canada won the bronze.

“I’m happy and I’m proud of myself. It wasn’t perfect execution, but I’m proud of myself. I wanted to set myself apart from everybody else and this is the Olympics, I have to do it.

“I came to this Olympics to win three gold medals, to prove myself again as one of the greats.”