Usain Bolt beats Justin Gatlin in 100m final: World Athletics Championships

  

For two years Justin Gatlin has been the undisputed king of sprinting as well as athletics’ most controversial character, but cometh the hour, cometh Usain Bolt – but by the narrowest of margins.

Gatlin is famed not only for having failed two doping tests but also for his explosive starts, while Bolt tends to rise from his blocks like a man who has overslept on a rock hard mattress. This time though there was little in it at the gun or at 40, 50, 60, 70 and even 80 metres. But as they approached the line, Gatlin lost his balance while Bolt kept his nerve. In the end a width of vest separated them with Bolt winning in 9.79sec, from Gatlin in 9.80. The Canadian Andre De Grasse and the 19-year-old American Trayvon Bromell shared the bronze medal in 9.92.

Bolt said: “It definitely means a lot because I’ve been struggling all season. It took me a while to discover what was the problem. And it’s all held together so I’m just happy.”

The Jamaican, who has now won nine world titles over 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay, was also asked how important his victory was given Gatlin’s past: “For me, I understand why but I wanted to do it for myself. It was a big deal.”

For nearly two years athletics had waited for this track-and-field super fight – with Gatlin having gone into the final with an unbeaten streak that stretched back over 28 races and Bolt also unbeaten over 100m – except when easing down in heats – since being outrun by Gatlin in Rome in June 2013. As they say in boxing, somebodies O had to go, and while the winning time was nothing special the occasion certainly was.

At the start both men acted like boxers, rolling their necks and puffing out their cheeks. When he was introduced, Bolt covered his eyes with his hands before opening them and smiling; Gatlin shot imaginary bullets with his fingers before roaring into the camera.