Usain Bolt wins makes him the first to set 200m Olympic athletics history
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."
Analysis
"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.
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