Usain Bolt stormed to an unprecedented third straight Olympic 100m title as Wayde van Niekerk smashed Michael Johnson’s long-standing 400m record in Rio on Sunday.
On a night of high drama Sunday, Bolt galloped past drug-tainted US rival Justin Gatlin to cross in 9.81sec and become the first athlete to win the 100m three times in a row.
The victory set the Jamaican showman off on his quest to complete the ‘triple triple’ — 100m, 200m and 4x100m gold medals at three consecutive Olympics.
“Somebody said I can become immortal. Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal,” said Bolt.
Minutes earlier, jaws dropped as van Niekerk timed a lightning 43.03sec in the 400m, breaking Johnson’s 17-year-old record set in 1999.
Van Niekerk, running in the unfavoured lane eight, blasted off the final corner to time 0.15sec quicker than Johnson’s previous world best set in Seville in 1999, a record that had taken on mythical-like standing.
“I believed I could get the world record,” the 24-year-old South African said. “I’ve dreamed of this medal since forever. I am blessed.”
Defending champion Kirani James of Grenada took silver in 43.76sec, with American Lashawn Merritt bronze (43.85).
“Congrats to Wayde on the new world record. I’m happy to be part of a race that made history. We have put this sport on a pedestal,” James said, adding that 400m runners normally have the habit of tying up as they hit the home stretch. “Usually that’s what happens, the guys slow down a bit! But when you keep going like that, there’s going to be world records. It shows that there’s always room for guys to improve. He just did that and exemplified that.”
“I have never seen anything like that,” Johnson told the BBC. “That was a massacre by Van Niekerk. This young man has done something truly special.”
Although way short of his 9.58sec world record, Bolt was happy with the performance but admitted he had been “shocked” at booing from the crowd directed at Gatlin, who has twiced been banned for doping.
He started slowly but reeled in Gatlin within 70 metres and eased up, thumping his chest as he crossed the line. Canada’s Andre de Grasse took bronze.
“I didn’t go so fast but I’m so happy I won,” he said.
Bolt, who is desperate to better his 2009 world best of 19.19sec, said a new record could be on the cards as he geared up for today’s opening round of the 200.
“I think if I can get a good night’s rest after the semi-finals, it’s possible,” Bolt said. “I’m going to leave it all on the track and do the best I possibly can,” he added.
Bolt has repeatedly said he wants to be the first man to dip under 19 seconds for the 200m. That goal will probably remain elusive in Rio — Bolt’s fastest time for the 200m this year is 19.89sec, set in London last month.
Four men have run quicker over the distance this season, with LaShawn Merritt of the United States leading the times with a best of 19.74sec, set at the US Olympic trials in Eugene on July 8.
Gatlin is second fastest, clocking 19.75 last month.