The King went down on his throne, and yes, he was dragged by force.
After dominating the running sport for at least a decade, the impressive Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was beaten by two Americans in his 100m final race at the 2017 IAAF World Championships.
Justin Gatlin stunned not only Bolt, but also the fans in London, as he grabbed the gold medal, together with another American named Christian Coleman who bagged the silver medal.
Bolt, who pocketed the bronze medal in 9:95 seconds, was punished for his sloppy start and was exploited by Gatlin who took the winning track with a spectacular record of 9.92 seconds. Coleman, meanwhile, snatched the silver medal in just an earlier 0.01 against the Jamaican with a 9.94 finish.
Finishing the tight run against the admired Bolt, Gatlin graciously bowed in front of him and warmly embraced his counterpart, showing his respect and admiration to the Jamaican.
“It’s just so surreal right now,” Gatlin said in an interview. “Usain has accomplished so much in our sport and inspired others.”
Tables were turned completely for Gatlin after 13 years of staying in the shadow of a Usain Bolt in the world of sprinting. It can be remembered that Justin Gatlin was the Olympic champion in 2004 before Bolt emerged and won an unprecedented three straight 100-meter titles at the Olympics.
“It was almost like 2004 all over again. I won by a little margin, and to be able to come across the line is amazing,” Gatlin told scribes in a post-game presser.
“Tonight was all about the W, and I managed to sneak it.,” he concluded. | Tretch Melarpes – PTV
