Bolt wins 3rd straight Olympic gold medal in 100-meter dash

Bolt wins 3rd straight Olympic gold medal in 100-meter dash. August. 16, 2016 06:48. by 이승건기자, 리우데자네이루=정윤철기자 why@donga.com,trigger@donga.com. Usain Bolt of Jamaica has won his third straight gold medal in men’s 100-meter dash at the Rio Olympics, an achievement that is unprecedented in the history of Olympiad.

In the men’s 100-meter dash final held at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday local time, Bolt had a time of 9.81 seconds, beating over American sprinter Justin Gatlin by 0.08 seconds.

Bolt, who entered the 100-meter dash category while specializing in the 200-meter race, alarmed the world by winning the gold with a time of 9.69 seconds, then the world record, at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He broke the world record in 100-meter dash again with a time of 9.58 seconds at the Berlin World Championships in 2009, before winning his second consecutive gold medal with a time of 9.63 seconds at the 2012 Olympics in London.

On Sunday's 100-meter dash final in Rio, Bolt had a starting response speed of 0.155 seconds to rank seventh among the eight runners. Bolt got off a slow start due to his large physique (196 centimeters tall, and weighing 95 kilograms), and was lagging behind through the half-way point in the race, but he overtook the rivals one after another through explosive speed by banking on his wide strides of up to 2.80 meters per step. At the 80-meter point, he passed Katlin, who had been leading the race. He looked relaxed as he pounded his chest twice right before crossing the finish line as he did in the Beijing event in 2008.

After finishing the race, the 29-year-old sprinter moved around the spectators’ stand by holding up a mascot doll and the Jamaican national flag to share his joy with fans. “I told you that I will do it,” Bolt jokingly said. “There are people who have expectations (on me) four years from now, but I will say goodbye to the Olympics after winning two more gold medals (in Rio).” The men’s 200-meter final and the 400-meter relay final will take place on Friday and Saturday, respectively.