Usain Bolt claims sprint double over Justin Gatlin with sensational 200m triumph
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ByEurosport
Updated 27/08/2015 at 16:11 GMT
A sensational run from Usain Bolt saw him crush rival Justin Gatlin over 200 metres in 19.55 seconds and chalk up another sprint double at the IAAF World Championships.
Usain Bolt celebrates
Image credit: Eurosport
Both men flew out of the blocks but Bolt pulled away in the home straight, affording himself a smile and bumping his chest with his fists as he eased up crossing the line.
Gatlin took silver in 19.74s, with South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana snatching bronze with a new national record of 19.87s.
Alonso Edward (also 19.87s) was the unfortunate athlete nudged off the podium, while Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes ran a new lifetime best of 20.02s to take fifth.
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Usain Bolt Jamaica (bottom) celebrates winning the race ahead of Justin Gatlin of U.S. (R) who finished in second and Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain in the men's 200 metres final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing
Image credit: Reuters
On Saturday, Bolt pipped Gatlin to victory over 100m – a result that could have been different had Gatlin’s technique not crumbled in the closing stages – but there was no doubt about the fastest man over 200m.
Bolt said after his triumph:
It's great, a fourth win over 200m and it means a lot to me. I'm happy to be a 10-time World Championships gold medallist, especially when people have been saying I would lose. For me I knew I had the utmost confidence. As long as my coach is confident I'm super confident. There was never a doubt that I would win this one. I'm number one. The British people give me a lot of love and I will continue running fast. Michael Johnson stop doubting me bro.
Bolt cut a relaxed figure on the startline before charging out his blocks and roaring to his 10th World Championship gold medal.
It was the Jamaican’s third sprint double in the championships' history, adding to his 100m-200m hauls from Berlin in 2009 and Moscow in 2013. Bolt also won the 200m in 2011 in Daegu, but was disqualified in the 100m final for a false start.
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Jamaica's Usain Bolt (C) celebrates with fans after winning the final of the men's 200 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 27, 2015
Image credit: AFP
After the race, Bolt was taken out by a cameraman who crashed his Segway into the fastest man in history.
"He tried to kill me," joked Bolt. "I don't know what was going on."
BOLT'S MEDAL HAUL IN MAJOR COMPETITIONS
- Six Olympic golds - 2x 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay
- 10 World Championship golds - 4x 200m, 3x 100m and 4x100m relay
OUR VIEW
After 'saving athletics' with his 100m final win over Gatlin, this was Bolt confirming his supremacy and he achieved it in thrilling fashion. There was a trademark flash of those teeth as he eased up crossing the line - making the 10th fastest 200m time look like a walk in the park. Bolt would have been the greatest of all time had he won gold or silver, but coming first just embellishes his legend further.
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