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Athletics World Championships

Beijing blesses Bolt again with 10th world championship gold

It’s his baby, the one he loves dearly. So it’s fitting then that the cherished 200 metres brought him a train of honours. Usain Bolt’s winning run of 19.55 seconds on Thursday night in the Bird’s Nest stadium added a 10th world championship gold medal to the collection.

Usain Bolt after winning the men's 200 metres final
Usain Bolt after winning the men's 200 metres final Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach
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He becomes the first man to win back-to-back world championship sprint doubles – he also achieved that at the Olympics - and the first 100 or 200 metres sprinter to win four consecutive titles at the world championships.

Statisticians may quibble that the American Carl Lewis might have done better. He won the inaugural world championships in Helsinki in 1983 followed by Rome in 1987 and Tokyo in 1991. And the sticklers may have a point. But Bolt has done more than enough to stand outside comparisons.

He anointed himself a living legend after his 200 metres win at the London Olympics in 2012. Since then he’s enhanced the brand. The 100 and 200 metres titles came at the Moscow world championships in 2013 along with a gold in the 4x100 metres relay.

But that was then.

The 29-year-old Jamaican came into the Beijing championships seriously impeded. Injuries had punctuated his season and disrupted his preparations. Meanwhile his rivals Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell had all registered impressive times.

Of the troika, only Gatlin will depart with some prizes from Beijing. Silver in both the 100 and 200 metres, while the other two were lost in the dust.

“The 100 metres is for my coach and the public,” said Bolt after his latest triumph. “Winning the 100 metres always gives you confidence. But the 200 metres is for me. I’ve really put my heart into perfecting the 200 metres. I run it at my best. I’m more technically sound over 200 metres. It’s just one of the races I really love. Winning it means a lot more to me than anything else.”

The return to Beijing added a sentimental strand to the success. It was in the Bird’s Nest stadium seven years ago that both Bolt the showman and champion sprint exploded into life. Since then he has become part of world culture. Little surprise then that he knelt down and kissed the Beijing running track during his lap of honour. Really, when he retires he should have a piece of it framed and mounted, such is its heft to his global kudos and renown.

When the runners were being announced over the loud speakers just before the 100 metres final on 23 August, the Chinese sprinter Bingtian Su understandably received a huge roar from the spectators. When Bolt’s name was announced the din was similarly rapturous. For the others there were polite ripples of applause.

“I’m happy to be back in Beijing,” said Bolt. “I’ve really appreciated the way the crowd have shown me love this time and I’ll continue doing my best to make them proud.”
 

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