Usain Bolt Takes 100-Metre Gold

Jamaica's Usain Bolt has won gold in the men's 100-metre final, taking victory and setting a new Olympic record.

The 25-year-old won the race in a time of 9.63 seconds, fulfilling his dream of becoming a "legend" of the sport by defending his sprint title.

Bolt was only fifth quickest out of the blocks but was quickly into his running and stormed to victory, posting the second quickest time in history.

Only Bolt himself has run quicker with his world record of 9.58 seconds, set in winning the world title in Berlin in 2009.

After the race, Bolt told the BBC: "When I went out in the first run, I felt 'I can do this'.

"I was slightly worried about my start, I didn't want to false start again. So I think I sat in the blocks a little bit, I don't think it was the best reaction in the world, but I executed and that was the key.

"My coach said stop worrying about your start, the best of your race is at the end, that's where you rule. So I stopped worrying about the start and I executed, so it worked."

Reigning world champion and training partner Yohan Blake took silver in 9.75 seconds to equal his personal best, with 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin taking the bronze.

The first seven men all broke 10 seconds, but the chances of all eight doing so for the first time ever were ruined when Asafa Powell - the third Jamaican in the final - suffered an injury shortly before the line and limped home in a time of 11.99 seconds.