Lightning Usain Bolt achieved the triple crown in the 100 meters.

[-DarkJesús-]

 

Rio de Janeiro. - Jamaican Usain Bolt today won the triple Olympic crown in the 100 meters with 9.81 seconds by winning the showpiece of speed in Rio de Janeiro, which adds another gold to those achieved in the Beijing Olympics 2008 and London 2012.

The silver went to American Justin Gatlin (9.89), while the bronze was won by the Canadian André De Grasse (9.91).

Bolt, who set up his victory in his prodigious final 50 meters, thus joins the first of three gold medals which aims to win in Rio de Janeiro, where he seeks to repeat the trick in the sprint (100, 200 and 4x100 meters) already achieved in the last two Olympics, DPA reported.

It was one of the highlights of Rio 2016. Engenhao stadium giant screens carried from the afternoon announcing the time left for the race, so when at 22:25 the night carioca the fastest sprinters in the world eight squatted on the starting line time he paused for a moment, just to gain momentum.

The shot broke the silence and the roar of thousands of throats trying to push from the stands had heard all over Rio de Janeiro, where the mild winter night carioca electrified for nine seconds for the Olympic history.

"I'm a sprinter, but also an 'entertainer'", had assured the Jamaican before his "show" Today in Rio de Janeiro. There is no doubt that knows how to entertain the public, but especially knows how to run. In the semifinals, without forcing the machine, left and an intimidating time: 9.86 seconds better personal best of the year.

An hour and a half later, no one could with him. Like no one could, when important events come during the past eight years since the Jamaican talent exploded in the Bird's Nest in Beijing for his first Olympic gold with world record.

A year later would in 9.58 seconds, a mark once today seems far from any human being. But time did not matter today Bolt, who dreams of completing his work with three golds, as it did in 2008 and 2012.

To this we must add 11 other world titles in the sprints. The only big race that got away in two Olympic cycles was the 100-meter World Daegu 2011, but it was for being disqualified for false start.

They may continue there. But so far there was no sign of the hamstring problems that forced him to stop for several days just a month before the start of the Games.

At 34, Gatlin, who arrived with a better record than his rival to Rio, perhaps lost his last chance to defeat Bolt. The American, who two penalties for doping always pursued and was booed every time he appeared on the screen, dropped as it did in London 2012 and at the World Championships of 2013 and 2015. The influence of the champion is too strong for their rivals.

Neither Yohan Blake, training partner, and the young De Grasse managed to bring down the myth of Bolt, the last day of the Games turns 30 and is on track to fulfill what was proposed.

"I want to be for athletics what Muhammad Ali is to boxing," he said before his debut. "I want to remember something as extraordinary," said the Jamaican, who intends to close its last nine Olympic Games medals adding in the sprint, a feat unprecedented in athletics. "People will have to speak with reverence about me."