Usain Bolt won gold in the 200m for an unprecedented third straight Olympics on Thursday in a time of 19.78 seconds.
Bolt has now won gold in both the 100 and 200m for three straight Olympic Games, and he’ll go for an also unprecedented triple-triple when the Jamaican relay team looks for a third straight gold medal in the 4x100m.
Canadian Andre De Grasse, the bronze medalist in the 100m, took home the silver in a time of 20.02, while France’s Christophe Lemaitre won bronze. Lemaitre just edged out Great Britain’s Adam Gemili, after officials separated the two by thousandths of a second.
Bolt was never really challenged during the race, holding a sizable lead through the turn and maintaining it down the straightaway. in what’s believed to be his final individual race at the Olympics.
Bolt was unable to reach his goal of breaking his own world record of 19.19, thanks in part to the rain falling inside Olympic Stadium. The 29-year-old also had another reason for not setting a new world record, his age.
“I’m always happy for the win, but I wanted a faster time,” Bolt told NBC. “I felt good, but when I came into the straight, my body wouldn’t respond to me. So I guess it’s just age and all the rounds that’s taken toll.”
The fans in Rio will get one more chance to celebrate Bolt’s greatness on Friday night in the 4×100 relay, though he took a moment to get down on his knees and kiss the track following yet another incredible accomplishment in his unrivaled career.
All photos courtesy Action Images
