Bolt a living legend in world athletics

[Dinesh Weerawansa - Reporting From England]

Superman Usain Bolt reassured that he is a living legend in world athletics when he anchored Jamaica's men's 4 x 100m relay team to victory with a world record on the penultimate day of the XXXth Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium here last night.

His invincible performance led to a storming final leg of the men's 4 x 100m relay as Jamaica set a new world record to claim a stunning gold. The quartet of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and Bolt finished first in 36.84 seconds, making it another memorable Olympic Games for Bolt, who successfully defended his 100m and 200m titles at London 2012 Games.

USA claimed silver medal in a time of 37.04 seconds, with Trinidad and Tobago, which clocked 38.12 seconds, picked the bronze. There was hardly any difference between the US and Jamaican runners when they completed the third leg. As Blake and Gay rounded final curve of the race, they were pretty much stride for stride. Bolt got the baton from Blake almost even with the last American runner Ryan Bailey for the anchor leg of the race.

But Bolt steadily pulled away down the stretch, gritting his teeth and leaning at the line, leading Jamaica to the title in a world-record timing.

He not only got gold medals the way he wants but also collected the souveniors in similar fashion. Having gone past the finish line like a bullet, Bolt pleaded with an official to let him keep the yellow baton he was clutching during the record breaking performance.

Hence the official's immediate answer was a firm “No” in keeping with the regulations of competition, Bolt humbly handed it over as some nearby spectators booed. However, 45 minutes later, the identical official appeared before Bolt to return the stick. The sprint merchant happily accepted it with a bow of thanks and a chuckle, kissed the baton. He immediately got his three teammates to autograph it to make it the most memorable one in his cherished collection of priceless souveniors.

Any mention of Bolt's name drew raucous cheers from a packed Olympic Stadium, countless camera flashes and chants of “Usain!” or “We want Bolt!”. “It's amazing. It's been wonderful,” legendary Bolt said in an interview shown on the scoreboard. While acknowledging the inspirational cheering from spectator stands, Bolt said; “You guys are wonderful. Thanks for the support. I love you guys”. He added the relay gold to complete a golden triple once more, following his 100m triumph in 9.63 seconds last Sunday with the second fastest time in history and the 200m title in 19.32 on Thursday. The runner-up in both those individual sprints Yohan Blake, Bolt's pal and training partner ran the third leg of the relay, following Nesta Carter and Michael Frater.

USA's quartet of Trell Kimmons, the 100m bronze medalist Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey got the silver in 37.04, equaling the old record that Bolt helped set at last year's world championships. Canada, which was third across the line, was disqualified for running outside its lane, and its appeal was rejected. That gave the bronze medal to Trinidad & Tobago.

Superhuman Bolt, who will turn 26 next Tuesday (21), doubts his presence at the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 for another title defence after a perfect six out of six 100 percent victory record in Olympic finals for his career. He has bagged a gold medal every time he competed in an Olympic final, setting four world records in the process. His only failure at Olympic Games was witnessed in 2004, competing as a teenager in men's 200m qualifying heat in Athens, Greece.

No man had set world records while winning the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay in the 116-year-old history of the modern Olympics, until Bolt did it in Beijing 2008. None had won the 200m twice, let alone completed a 100-200 double twice until Bolt did so in 2008 and 2012. Thus, the Jamaican sprint sensation has many firsts that are hard to emulate before his name.

Mre importantly, Jamaica won the 4 x 100m relay with a world record without the services of former world champion Asafa Powell, who held the men's 100m world record from 2005 until Bolt claimed it in 2008. Powell, the anchor on the Jamaican team that won the 4x100m four years ago, injured his groin and pulled up during the men's 100m here.

Less than half an hour before the Jamaican ‘black magic’, USA had an emphatic victory in the women's 4 x 400m relay. The quartet of DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory and Sanya Richards-Ross led from start to finish to claim the gold. They beat Russia into silver by almost three-and-a-half seconds, with Jamaica claiming the bronze medal ahead of Ukraine.

Russian Anna Chicherova claimed women's high Jump gold with a commanding performance. The 30-year-old was the only woman to clear 2.05m, as she claimed a memorable victory.

Chicherova had cleared all of her previous heights at the first attempt, and although she needed two attempts to clear 2.05m, that was more than enough after the USA's Brigetta Barrett and Russia's Svetlana Shkolina failed the same height.

Barrett claimed silver on countback having cleared 2.03m at the second attempt, with Shkolina taking the bronze.

- LONDON, Sunday.