Olympic legend is born as Bolt wins 200m

Details

Published on Thursday, 09 August 2012 20:03

Written by Elombah.com

Usain Bolt wins 200m to make Olympic athletics history. Usain Bolt effortlessly breezed into victory at the Olympic 200m final beating his fellow Jamaican and training partner Yohan Blake. In a much-anticipated showdown Blake, the reigning Olympic champion won the final in 19.32 seconds, racing out of the blocks brilliantly with Blake close

behind, and another Jamaica coming third.

Usain Bolt powered to 200m gold to become the first man to successfully defend both Olympic sprint titles. Bolt, who retained his 100m crown on Sunday, led home a Jamaica one-two-three in a time of 19.32 seconds.

Yohan Blake took silver in 19.44, with Warren Weir in third.

Men's 200m Results

+RkBibAthleteMark

+12170 BOLT Usain19.32SB - JAMAICAN

+22169 BLAKE Yohan19.44SB - JAMAICAN

+32191 WEIR Warren19.84PB - JAMAICAN

+43253 SPEARMON Wallace19.90SB - USA

+52547 MARTINA Churandy20.00 - NETHERLANDS

+61759 LEMAITRE Christophe20.19 - FRANCE

+71576 QUINONEZ Alex 20.57

+82783 JOBODWANA Anaso20.69 - SOUTH AFRICA

Bolt, 25, will attempt to win his sixth Olympic gold as part of the Jamaica 4x100m relay team, with the heats beginning on Friday.

--------------------

Usain Bolt wins 200m to make Olympic athletics history - By Tom Fordyce, Chief sports writer, BBC Sport at the Olympic Stadium

Usain Bolt became the first man to retain both Olympic sprint titles as he led home a gold and green Jamaica clean sweep in the 200m.

Bolt matched Michael Johnson's then world-record time from the Atlanta Games of 19.32 seconds as he held off training partner Yohan Blake in silver and Warren Weir in bronze.

Blake had beaten Bolt at the Jamaican trials, his last race over the distance before London, but the double 100m champion ran a brilliant bend from lane seven to lead by a metre coming into the straight.

Glancing to his left he was aware of Blake closing in a fraction at 150m, but held his form to cross the line with a finger to his lips.

"This is what I wanted and I got it. I'm very proud of myself," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport.

"After a rough season I came out here and did it. I thought the world record was possible. I guess I was fast but not fit enough.

"I could feel my back strain a little bit, so all I did was to keep my form. I'm very dedicated to my work and London meant so much to me."

Usain Bolt 'proud' of Olympic 200m victory

-----------

Analysis

Michael Johnson - Four-time Olympic champion & BBC Sport pundit

"Blake found after the start that Bolt was already gone. He displayed some speed endurance that I haven't seen before. He looked at the clock, realised that he was not on world-record pace and decided to celebrate a little bit early!"

---------------------

Blake's 19.44 secs was a season's best, while 22-year-old Weir set a new personal best with 19.84 secs to complete the Jamaican party.

But this was Bolt's race, and these have once again been Bolt's Games.

A month ago, his form questionable and his hamstrings and back giving him serious problems, there was genuine doubt whether the 25-year-old could retain one Olympic title here in London, let alone two.

Bolt has made those misgivings seem laughable. He now has five Olympic gold medals, the most decorated Jamaican Olympian of all time, and with the 4x100m still to come can make it six before he heads home to the embrace of an ecstatic nation.

Fastest 200m of all time

Usain Bolt - 19.19 secs (2009)

Yohan Blake - 19.26 secs (2011)

Usain Bolt - 19.30 secs (2008)

Usain Bolt - 19.32 secs (2012)

Michael Johnson - 19.32 secs (1996)

Usain Bolt - 19.40 secs (2011)

On a warm, still summer evening perfect for sprinting, Bolt had clowned around as he waited to be called to his blocks, as ever a study in easy relaxation despite the magnitude of the occasion.

He flirted with the girl looking after his kit and then gave a regal wave before taking his rivals apart from the moment the gun sounded.

While there was no new mark on Thursday evening, this was the fourth fastest 200m in history - a display to rank among the best the event Bolt calls his own has ever seen.

• < Prev
• Next >