Usain Bolt retained his 100 metres Olympic crown in sensational style last night by winning in a new Games record of 9.63 seconds. The Jamaican superstar put on a stunning show for his fans in London to hold off Yohan Blake and Justin Gatlin. Bolt, 25, becomes only the second man in history to win back-to-back 100m Olympics titles.
He said: “I was happy. When I went in first round I thought to myself ‘I can do this’ and I was feeling good.
“I sat in the blocks a bit then but my coach told me to stop worrying about the start and do the business and I did.
“When it comes the championships, I do it. I brought it. I did it.”
He also paid tribute to the London fans, adding: “You can feel the energy of the crowd.”
After winning his silver medal, his compatriot Blake said: “Usain is the fastest man in the world. I have thank him.
“I’ve got a silver medal and I’ve got to be happy with that.”
Bolt looked comfortable in the semi-finals when he won the second of three qualifying races in 9.87s.
Although it was American Gatlin who fired a warning to his fellow finalists by running the fastest of all in the first semi at 9.82s.
None of the three Brits in the semi-finals could make the final eight for the showpiece race.
Youngster Adam Gemili ran 10.06s and missed out on a fastest loser spot by just 0.05s.
The 18-year-old only took up athletics full-time in January after a spell at Dagenham and Redbridge academy.
Gemili said: “I am going to stick with athletics and see how it goes.
“Hopefully I can improve the times and become more consistent. The guys yesterday did so well.
“It boosts me up and makes me want to go forward and maybe one day be in the same position as them and win a gold medal for Great Britain at the Olympics.”
Dwain Chambers, at the other end of his career, was slightly faster than Gemili as he ran 10.05s in the same semi as Bolt.
The 34-year-old Londoner’s drugs ban in 2003 ruled him out of the Olympics until the BOA’s bylaw was overturned earlier this year.
And he said: “Part of me is disappointed because I wanted to make the final and based on the time I ran yesterday that would have got me through.
“But that’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. It’s a bit unfortunate that it didn’t happen today. I am just happy to be here, I’ve never smiled so much in my life.
“We’ll see what opportunities present themselves after London and then I will just relax, spend some time with my
family and see how things feel.
“This has been my focus and I am grateful to have fought this long to get to this position.
“If I can continue enjoying it and still feed my family then I will carry on as long as I can.”
The third Brit, Jame Dasaolu, finished seventh in the first of the semi-finals with a time of 10.18.
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