LONDON - Usain Bolt silenced the doubters with an
emphatic victory in the Olympic 100 meters, underlining his status as
the fastest man on Earth and handing Jamaica the perfect Independence
Day present.
Training partner Yohan Blake took the silver medal
in Sunday night's final to make it a Jamaican one-two, a day before the
Caribbean nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of independence from
Britain.
Compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce got the party started on Saturday by retaining her women's 100 title.
Some
had questioned if Bolt had it in him to win a second successive gold in
the bluerib and sprint after suffering back problems, getting himself
disqualified for a false start in last year's world championship and
losing to Blake in the Jamaican trials.
But after an indifferent
start, he blitzed his way down the track to win in 9.63 seconds, an
Olympic record and the second fastest time ever behind his own world
record of 9.58. American Justin Gatlin took bronze.
Bolt kissed
the ground and then leaned back and pointed to the sky in his trademark
'lightning bolt' salute before basking in adulation on a lap of honor,
draped in the Jamaican flag.
"Some of you guys doubted me," the 25-year-old told reporters. "I just had to show the world I was the greatest.
"It
means I'm one step closer to being a legend," said Bolt who will now
bid to complete an unprecedented double-double by retaining his 200
title on Thursday.
Sanya Richards-Ross of the United States won
400 gold on Sunday at the third time of asking, 2004 champion Ezekiel
Kemboi regained his Olympic title to extend Kenya's dominance in the
steeplechase while Ethiopia's Tika Gelana took the women's marathon.
Hungary's
Krisztian Pars added the Olympic hammer title to his European crown and
Kazakhstan's Olga Rypakova leapt to gold in the women's triple jump
with a best mark of 14.98 meters.
Among Monday's highlights will be Russian Yelena Isinbayeva's bid for a third successive Olympic victory in the pole vault.
Traditionally
an Olympic powerhouse, Russia have had a disappointing Games, lying
ninth in the overall medals table with just four golds.
China are
top with 30 golds, having overtaken the United States on 28, while
hosts Britain gained two more on Sunday to lie third with 16.