Usain Bolt - the world’s fastest man - has won a record third consecutive 100m gold medal. The 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion blitzed the field, beating arch rival Justin Gatlin in 9.81ec.
Gatlin started strongly, leading out from the blocks but Bolt’s searing finishing kick got him home.
Bolt had earlier won the second semifinal in Rio on Monday in 9.86sec.
Bolt was unfazed by a false start, which led to his former Jamaican compatriot Andrew Fisher, running for Bahrain, being disqualified.
After looking heavenward and crossing himself before the restart, Bolt blitzed his rivals with a compelling finishing kick.
Bolt looked more impressive than Gatlin, who won the third race in 9.94sec.
France’s Jimmy Vicaut flashed home first in the first semifinal.
The rest of the eight-man final field comprised Ivory Coast’s Ben Youssef Meite, South African champion Akani Simbine, USA’s Trayvon Bromell and Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, who won the 100m and 200m silver medals behind countryman Bolt at London in 2012.
-Agencies
