Usain Bolt defeats Justin Gatlin

Why would he? When youre this good — the Jamaican is going for a fourth straight world championship title in the 200 meters on Thursday night — you can afford to be extremely confident.

Only when the running stopped and the picture-taking began did Usain Bolt finally meet his match.

Sprint legend Usain Bolt has described his come-from-behind victory in the 100 metres of the athletics World Championships as the “hardest race” of his scintillating career.

Kenya have won six gold medals in Beijing, with another coming in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase as a final lap of 66 seconds was enough for Hyvin Jepkemoi to prevail with a victorious time of 9 min, 19.11 secs.

But Gatlin, whose reputation in the sport is still in tatters after his drugs ban, settled for silver with a time of 9.80, as Bolt added another title to his name while also ending Gatlin’s 28-race unbeaten run at the Bird’s Nest stadium.

Behind Gatlin, Anaso Jobodwana won bronze with a South African record of 19.87. “I feel like Justin Gatlin had something to do with it!”

“I knew I wasn’t in the shape for a world record”. “You don’t have to cheer for me or be my fan”.

“There’s a lot of big rivals out there, but I am a big rival myself”.

Bolt’s celebrations were briefly interrupted by an errant cameraman on a Segway who crashed into the 29-year-old as he waved to the crowd. “Just trying to get as much rest as possible and trying to get through these rounds”.

Gatlin had been attempting to claim a first World Championship gold since winning both the 100m and 200m finals in Helsinki 10 years ago, but the American was left chasing Bolt’s shadow as the Jamaican racked up his 10th world title. “I’m just very grateful to be here”. Nevertheless, once he got fully into his stride, there was no stopping Bolt, and he still had time to take a look around before jogging across the line in first place. “I’m more professional with 200m, I didn’t have to expend a lot of energy”.

Gatlin, game-face on after failing in his bid to dethrone Bolt as the king of men’s sprinting, won his heat in 20.19. Right now I’m feeling OK.

The 17-year old, who was pitted in the 200m preliminary round heat three against Bolt, was making a debut at the World Championships.