There were doubts about him beforehand, but Usain Bolt proved he was still the world’s greatest sprinter by clinching gold in the 100m final at the Rio Olympics.
Bolt has not had the best of years, as niggling injuries have kept him sidelined for periods at a time, while his long-time rival Justin Gatlin has been in top form throughout 2016.
In fact, Gatlin had the fastest time in the world this year of 9.80 heading into the Olympics, but he was put in his place by Jamaican legend Bolt, who stormed to victory in 9.81 to successfully defend his title and claim his seventh Olympic gold medal – and he has never come second or third in any Games since his first event in Beijing in 2008.
South African champion Akani Simbine just managed to qualify for the final after ending third in the semi-final, but had an excellent run against what was a world-class field.
The 22-year-old, running in his first Olympics, had the quickest reaction time as he blasted out of the blocks.
A relaxed-looking Simbine trailed a flying Gatlin for most of the race, and it looked like a shock was on the cards as Bolt was slow to get going, as usual.
Simbine looked on track for a medal, but in the last 15 metres, he was caught by the likes of Bolt and Canadian Andre de Grasse, and the South African had to settle for fifth place in a time of 9.94.
So it was hard work for the 29-year-old Bolt from Kingston in the second half of the race, but he showed his class to surge past Gatlin at around the 70m mark, and he still had time to look at his rival and thump his chest as he crossed the line in 9.81.
Simbine’s SA record of 9.89 would’ve secured joint-second place and a silver medal, but it didn’t work out that way as Gatlin was the runner-up in 9.89, with De Grasse claiming bronze in a new personal best of 9.91.
Bolt’s countryman Yohan Blake just pipped Simbine for fourth spot in 9.93.
But Simbine will be a much better athlete for the experience in what was his first major international final. He would’ve been inspired by his close friend Wayde van Niekerk, who broke the 400m world record to win gold in 43.03 just a few minutes before the 100m final, so watch out for Simbine at next year’s world championships.