Usain Bolt beats Justin Gatlin to win 100m title at World Championship

One of athletics’ nights to remember has seen Usain Bolt claim his third 100 metres World Championship title, edging out Justin Gatlin by a solitary hundredth-of-a-second – but Mark English and Thomas Barr both bowed out of their respective semi-finals.

And that looked on course to end after the semi-finals when Gatlin blasted home in 9.77s, while Bolt nearly tripped out of the blocks and had to fight all the way to the line to snatch the win.

Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin are the favorites. Bromell, Su and Vicaut had all run 9.99.

“I think I’ve just had some solid performances, nothing wonderful but just solid”.

And Gatlin held the lead at the halfway point but Bolt opened up and put the pressure on the American, tipping him in a photo-finish. “So for me to come and win, this is a big deal”.

Gatlin and Bolt bumped fists before the race, a handsome gesture of sportsmanship, but it was clear the latter looked far less relaxed than we’ve gotten used to in the past.

But the night belonged to Bolt, who had played a high- stakes game of poker in the heats, running well within himself as Gatlin, dressed in a blood-red lycra suit, posted eye- popping times of 9.83 and 9.77 to seemingly gain the psychological edge. Gatlin was at his shoulder but dipped too early, crossing the line in 9.80 seconds.

English meanwhile kept to his own pace in his 800m semi-final, meaning he was placed eighth and last at the bell, but began to pick competitors off in the final 200 metres. In that span of time, Bolt won gold medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash at the 2013 IAAF World Championships but missed most of the ’14 campaign with a foot injury.

“But if you felt the impact in the stadium, you’ll understand just how much every athletics fan really wanted Bolt to win”, said Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics which is now conducting a review of strenuously denied doping allegations levelled at long distance runner Mo Farah’s coach Alberto Salazar. “I mean he is 11 years after winning the Olympic gold medal in Athens, he’s come back and even with that two or three year hiatus from the sport, he’s still doing something exceptional in being an outlier”.

Asked for his feelings on the race result, particularly since some had been rooting against him, Gatlin said, “I’m thankful”. “I never started doubting myself”.

O’Dayne Richards of Jamaica surprised the field with a national record throw of 21.69 for bronze.

Miguel Angel Lopez of Spain won the 20-kilometer walk in 1 hour, 19 minutes, 14 seconds on Sunday, holding off the strong challenge from Chinese athletes seeking to win the host country’s first gold medal at the world championships.