Golden Bolt wins 100 metres in new world record

News - News - Beijing 2008 Olympics - The Times Of India

BEIJING: Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the men's 100 metres Olympic title on Saturday in a new world record time of 9.69 seconds. The 21-year-old - who becomes the first Jamaican to win the Olympic 100m crown - beat home Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago (9.89secs) while Walter Dix of the United States was third in a time of 9.91 seconds. Bolt's compatriot and former world record holder Asafa Powell came fifth as six of the eight finalists finished under 10 seconds, a record for the Olympic final, which also equalled the 1991 world final in Tokyo when six men also finished under the 10 second barrier. Bolt - who bettered compatriot Don Quarrie's silver medal from the 1976 Olympics - was headed by Thompson for the first part of the race but there was no contest once he got into his stride and went clear away from the field. So commanding was his lead he eased up well before the line and held out his hands in celebration. "I felt the world record earlier on," Bolt told the BBC . "I came here just to win and I did just that. I didn't even know I'd broken the world record until I did my victory lap. "Now I'm just concentrating on my two races coming up. I came here prepared and I'm going to try and do it the (100 and 200m double)." Behind him Thompson showed the same impressive form the 23-year-old had displayed during the earlier heats to hold on to second. Meanwhile Dix, also an Olympic debutant, came on strong in the final metres to overhaul Powell, who lost out on fourth place to surprise package Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles. Powell admitted he had run out of steam. "My legs died on me. I'm not sure what happened. I'm happy for Usain. I really wanted to get that gold medal. I wasn't ready for the big stage yet," he said. World champion Tyson Gay, out of action for just over a month after suffering a hamstring injury before the Olympics, exited in the semi-finals earlier on Saturday, when he finished fifth.