Bolt secures legend status

Sixth Olympic gold, world record say it all

By: Raf Casert Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012

LONDON -- His place in history already secure, Usain Bolt added to his legend by anchoring Jamaica's 4x100-meter relay team to a world record and capping his second Olympics in a row with three gold medals.

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This article was published 12/08/2012 (4811 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LONDON — His place in history already secure, Usain Bolt added to his legend by anchoring Jamaica’s 4×100-meter relay team to a world record and capping his second Olympics in a row with three gold medals.

After setting three world records in Beijing four years ago, the “NEW WR” signal didn’t flash up on the timing clock for Bolt until the last race on the track at the London Games, as he sped away from U.S. anchor Ryan Bailey to cross in 36.84 seconds. That shaved two-tenths of a second off Jamaica’s old world mark.

Only a man like Bolt could upstage Mo Farah. The Briton made it a second Super Saturday for a frenzied home crowd at the Olympic Stadium, winning the 5,000 metres to clinch a long distance double at the London Games.

CP
Sean Kilpatrick / the canadian press
Jamaica�s 4x100-metre relay team celebrate their world record in London on Saturday. Usain Bolt is second from left. — CP Sean Kilpatrick / the canadian press Jamaica�s 4x100-metre relay team celebrate their world record in London on Saturday. Usain Bolt is second from left.

As good as he was, Farah realized the night belonged to Bolt.

“What he does for the sport, it is absolutely amazing,” Farah said. “We take it for granted. We are not going to see a legend like him again.”

After winning the 100 and 200 to anoint himself as a “living legend,” Bolt went full-throttle one last time at the games, gritting his teeth as his giant stride again made the difference. This time he ran through and dipped at the line to get the world record and turn the U.S.-Jamaican men’s sprint rivalry in the favour of the small Caribbean nation of 2.9 million.

“It’s always a beautiful feeling to end off like this,” Bolt said. “We did it last year in the world championships — for me it is a wonderful feeling.”

The United States took silver in 37.04, equaling the old mark that Bolt and co. set last year at the world championships. Trinidad and Tobago took bronze after Canada was disqualified.

Then the party started. Bolt slapped his chest and held three fingers upward. His full trademark “To the World” pose followed and a long parade of flag waving.

The 80,000-capacity crowd could not get enough, chanting: “We want Bolt. We want Bolt.” He obliged.

He started shaking his fingers, set off a crowd wave around both tiers of the giant Olympic Stadium.

— The Associated Press