• Jamaican secures fourth successive 200m title at world championships
On a night of perfect 10s for the irrepressible Usain Bolt, it took a hapless cameraman on a Segway to do what Justin Gatlin again failed to and bring him down.
If that was a comedic end to the second act of a rivalry styled as a modern morality play, for Bolt his stroll to an unprecedented fourth consecutive men’s 200m world title was deadly serious. Not only did he secure his 10th world championship gold medal but the manner of victory – his time of 19.55sec was the 10th fastest ever and his best for three years – was a stunning riposte to any doubters.
Having struggled with injury all season, afterwards the Jamaican was bubbling enthusiastically about breaking 19 seconds over his favourite distance.
Even Bolt’s victory lap came with added drama when a cameraman on a motorised two-wheel contraption knocked him over from behind then a volunteer attempted to make off with his spikes. “I am fine. I have a few cuts. But it’s nothing I have never done to myself in training. I feel like Justin Gatlin had something to do with it. Maybe,” he said with a laugh.
Before their 100m clash on Sunday, Bolt had appeared uncharacteristically nervous and had to come to terms with the unfamiliar feeling of being second favourite behind the man with the fastest times in the world this year. But it was as though victory for Bolt then, and the brouhaha that surrounded it, had diminished the American and only enhanced the Jamaican’s power to intimidate. His old swagger was restored and by the time he crossed the line after accelerating away from Gatlin as they rounded the back of the curve, it had become a gleeful strut and he thumped his chest in celebration.
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