Usain Bolt blazed to yet another sprint double by destroying American rival Justin Gatlin to retain his world 200 metres crown in Beijing on Thursday.
The peerless Jamaican, who has now won gold in his favourite event at the last four world championships, clocked an electrifying time of 19.55 seconds with a jaw-dropping display at the Bird’s Next stadium, where he shot to fame at the 2008 Olympics.
His only scare came on his lap of honour where he was bizarrely run over by a Chinese cameraman trying to film while riding a two-wheeled Segway scooter.
But Bolt’s fireworks overshadowed a strong evening for the United States after a ho-hum start to the competition, with Allyson Felix storming to the women’s 400m gold and Christian Taylor winning the men’s triple jump with the second longest leap ever.
Once again, however, Bolt stole the headlines on a balmy evening in the Chinese capital with a truly staggering run, after drawing first blood in his rivalry with two-time doping offender Gatlin by winning the 100m last weekend.
Kissing his vest and patting his chest before the race, Bolt quickly blew past Gatlin coming into the bend, surging clear to win in a season-leading time. Gatlin took silver in 19.74 and South African Anaso Jobodwana the bronze in a national record 19.87.
“There was no doubt,” said Bolt, winner of an astonishing 11 of the last 12 individual world and Olympic sprint titles since he lit up Beijing in 2008. “I told you guys I will do it. When it comes to the 200 I am a different person.
“My four world championships gold medals in the 200m, this is a big deal, a great accomplishment.”
Felix, the most decorated female athlete in track and field history based on her 200m and relay success, justified her decision to step up to the 400m with a comprehensive win, clocking a time of 49.26 seconds, the best in the world this year.
Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas claimed silver in a personal best of 49.67, with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson taking bronze in 49.99.
Olympic champion Christian Taylor nailed a cracking jump of 18.21 with his very last attempt to take gold. Only Britain’s world record-holder Jonathan Edwards has jumped further, leaping 18.29 in 1995.
“It was a great fight and I saved it until my last jump,” said Taylor. “We are that close to a record, this makes you even hungrier! I’m looking forward to Rio.”
Cuba’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo took silver, as he did in Moscow two years ago, with a best of 17.73 while Portuguese former Olympic champion Nelson Evora took bronze with his 17.52.
In Thursday’s other final, the women’s hammer final went to form with world record holder Anita Wlodarczyk winning with a mighty heave of 80.85 metres.
The results:
Men: 200m: 1. Usain Bolt (Jam) 19.55s, 2. Justin Gatlin (USA) 19.74, 3. Anasco Jobodwana (RSA) 19.87.
Triple jump: 1. Christian Taylor (USA) 18.21m, 2. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (Cub) 17.73, 3. Nelson Evora (Por) 17.52.
Women: Hammer throw: 1. Anita Wlodarczyk (Pol) 80.85m, 2. Zhang Wenxiu (Chn) 76.33, 3. Alexandra Tavernier (Fra) 74.02.
400m: 1. Allyson Felix (USA) 49.26s, 2. Shaunae Miller (Bah) 49.67, 3. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 49.99.
Friday’s finals (in IST)
Women’s 20km walk: 6 a.m.
Women’s long jump: 5.20 p.m.
Women’s 200m: 6.30 p.m.
Men’s 110m hurdles: 6.50 p.m.
Women’s 100m hurdles: 7.05 p.m.
( Jamaica's gold medal winner Usain Bolt, Britain's Zharnel Hughes, United States' silver medal winner Justin Gatlin and Turkey's Ramil Guliyev, from left, compete in the men's 200m final at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing, China on Thursday. AP )
