BEIJING - World record holder Jamaican Usain Bolt dashed to his first Olympic gold in the men's 100 meters final and set a new world mark of 9.69 seconds at Bird's Nest here on Saturday.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago got the silver in 9.89 seconds and Dix Walter finished the third in 9.91 seconds.
Bolt didn't even use all his strength in final his final strides, while easing up and bouncing his chest with right palm before reaching the finish line. The previous world record was 9.72 seconds he set earlier this year.
Ecstatic Bolt, wearing the Jamaican national flag, repeatedly kissed his golden shoes, bathing in the hails of 91,000 spectators in the Chinese National Stadium.
Bolt posed for pictures beside the electronic bulletin which showed his new world record.
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Usain Bolt of Jamaica (C) celebrates winning the men's 100m final of the
athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 16, 2008. [Agencies]
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Powell, a favorite sprinter also from Jamaica, said, "Usain is the greatest of the best, definitely untouchable."
"He could run much a lot faster," said Powell, who finished the fifth in the finals in 9.95 seconds.
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Usain Bolt of Jamaica points at his race time after winning the men's 100m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 16, 2008. Bolt won 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time on Saturday, running 9.69 seconds to claim victory in an exhilarating showdown with his compatriot Asafa Powell. [Agencies]
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Bronze medalist Dix said, "I couldn't be more satisfied and I was proud of my performance here."
Meeting the world record holder for the first time in major events, Dix said, "He did a really good job."
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Jamaica's Usain Bolt (R) wins the men's 100m final at the National Stadium as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 16, 2008. [Agencies]
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Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the men's 100m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 16, 2008. Bolt won 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time on Saturday, running 9.69 seconds to claim victory in an exhilarating showdown with his compatriot Asafa Powell. [Agencies]
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Usain Bolt of Jamaica (C) crosses the finish line ahead of Richard Thompson (L) of Trinidad and Tobago and Doc Patton of the US (R) to win the men's 100m final in the athletics competition at the National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 16, 2008. Bolt won with a world record time of 9.69sec. [Agencies]
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The shoe of Usain Bolt of Jamaica is seen untied after winning the men's 100m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 16, 2008. Bolt won 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time on Saturday, running 9.69 seconds to claim victory in an exhilarating showdown with his compatriot Asafa Powell. [Agencies]
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Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the men's 100m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 16, 2008. Bolt won 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time on Saturday, running 9.69 seconds to claim victory in an exhilarating showdown with his compatriot Asafa Powell. [Agencies]
Source: China Daily, August 17, 2008
