Usain Bolt - showman, sprinter and (almost) gastronome

Usain Bolt is the showman incarnate. He played up for pre-race TV cameras as they rolled past and acknowledged the crowd with a few more gestures as his name was announced over the loudspeakers. He then went on to mash up the competitors in the 100-metres sprint.

Reuters/Phil Noble

All talk of Usain Bolt's demise appears to be premature. He is the first man since Carl Lewis, 24 years ago, to retain his Olympic 100-metres title.

Bolt is not happy to be called a legend yet.

The 26-year-old Jamaican says he needs to defend his title before that epithet can be applied to him.

Quite frankly, I think he's wrong. He needs to win the 200-metres and the 4x100-metres relay.

But, then again, I am demanding.

There's something in the air which is inspiring British athletes.

Four weeks ago Andy Murray wasn't quite good enough to beat Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.

But six gold medals on a Saturday and 15,000 partisan fans on a Sunday and what do you get?

A straight sets demolition on the same Wimbledon Centre Court of the Swiss maestro and another British Olympic champion.

Federer should have had a chat with the Williams sisters.

Venus and Serena won the women's doubles title - again. It was their fourth consecutive Olympic crown together. They beat the Czech pair Lucie Hradecka and Anna Hlavackova in straight sets a month after they beat them in the Wimbledon women's doubles final.

Dear, dear Roger, we know who you should have hung out with on Saturday night!

The Usain Bolt Food Guide to Winning Olympic Races has gained another chapter.

Four years ago the way to the 100-metres title was chicken nuggets for breakfast, a snooze and some chicken nuggets for lunch.

Taste gold for supper.

In London Bolt has gone, by comparison, gastronomic.

For breakfast he had some plantains, hash browns and some fruits and a wrap from MacDonalds with chicken and vegetables. It was all washed down with apple juice.

Lunch took in some rice, chicken and pork. "And that was it," recalled Bolt after the race as he savoured more gold. "I didn't want to eat too much because I didn't want to feel too full coming into the race."

Gorgeous.