Usain Bolt (Jamaica) established his living legend status carved yet another notch in history when he became the first man in history to land three successive Olympic 100m titles.
The Jamaican global icon recovered from a sluggish start to run down his US rival Justin Gatlin in the final 30 metres to stop the clock in 9.81 and clinch gold by a clear margin of 0.08. It was Bolt’s seventh Olympic gold medal. Canada’s Andre de Grasse was third in 9.91s.
Akani Simbine – the first South African in an Olympic 100m final for 84 years – performed highly creditably.
The Tuks/HPC-athlete was holding a medal position with 20 metres remaining only to see De Grasse and Blake flash by the final few strides and he had to settle for fifth in 9.94.
But still it was mission accomplished. Simbine’s goal was to compete in the final which he did. Since he set a new South African record of 9.89s in Istanbul at the end of July he certainly has established himself as one of the world’s best sprinters.
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