LONDON — Usain Bolt silenced the doubters with an emphatic victory in the Olympic 100 metres, 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 blue riband 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 leant back and pointed to the sky in his trademark “lightning bolt” salute before basking in adulation on a lap of honour, 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.
