Usain Bolt wins 100-meter world championship, proving he is still the fastest

Earlier, the Jamaican had won his semi-final with a time of 9.96 seconds to qualify for the final.

The 33-year-old, who completed the 100m and 200m sprint double at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, declined to stoke the fires of any rivalry and told BBC Sport that it will be an “honour” to contest Bolt’s title.

That was American athletics great Michael Johnson’s view of Bolt’s latest 100 metres world championship victory in Beijing on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Gatlin expressed his frustration at being billed as the villain in the build-up to the race as a result of his previous suspensions.

But commeth the hour, commeth the man, as Bolt edged Gatlin on the line to win the gold medal with a time of 9.79, just 0.01 ahead of the American.

Gatlin, backed by many to dethrone the Jamaica legend, settled for silver at 9.80 seconds – slower than his semifinal timing.

Fellow American Trayvon Bromell and Canadian Andre De Grasse shared bronze in third after finishing in exactly the same time (9.92sec). In both 2001 and 2006, Gatlin was caught doping and put on a two and four year ban, respectively, from the sport.

Bolt’s win is also vindication for the preparation he takes on under the astute guidance of his Mills.

Usain Bolt proved once again why he is the star attraction in athletics as he dashed Justin Gatlin’s hopes of 100 metres gold at the World Championships in Beijing. “I know my abilities, I just went out and ran my race”, he said.

“I would have liked more competitive races”, Bolt said.

Lopez pumped his fist in delight as he crossed the line in a personal best time of one hour 19 minutes 14 seconds, with Wang 15 seconds back.

But he was able to make up the gap and pip his opponents to the line at the Bird’s Nest, as he recorded a slightly disappointing time of 9.96 seconds – enough to get him into the final.

“My aim is to be the number one until I retire and therefore I am pushing myself and pushing myself”.

“This definitely means a lot because I’ve been struggling all season”, Bolt, who has battled for form in an injury-disrupted season, said in a trackside interview. “So for me to come and win, this is a big deal”.

Gatlin simply stated “I’m thankful” when asked repeatedly for his thoughts on the sport willing him not to win.

“To be honest me and my coach didn’t even talk about the gold medal – I didn’t really think about it”.

In the meantime, Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, who exclusively determined to compete 4 weeks in the past, regained the heptathlon world title after what she described as her “hardest yr ever”.