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BEIJING - Usain Bolt’s storied career added another chapter tonight in Beijing as the 29-year-old Jamaican beat out Justin Gatlin for gold in the men’s 100m at the 2015 World Championships.  

 

The race of the century certainly lived up to the hype, as Bolt once again stood atop the sprinting world with a stunning victory over the heavily-favored Gatlin. 

 

The finish was a breath-taking sight to behold, as Bolt narrowly out-leaned Gatlin 9.79 to 9.80. The time was Bolt’s fastest run since the 2013 World final in Moscow, when he also beat out the American for gold. Gatlin appeared to lean ahead of the line tonight in Beijing, which would ultimately cost him his second World title as Bolt lumbered through the finish with his famous powering stride.

 

“I’m a true champion,” Bolt said afterwards. “I’ve shown over the years that when it comes to big championships, I live for them.” 
 

Bolt’s gold tonight at the Bird’s Nest was the third 100m World title of his career, tying him with Maurice Greene and Carl Lewis for the most all-time. Overall, the World record holder now owns five global titles in the event, tops in track and field history.
 

Even with Bolt’s tremendous resume and intimidating presence, the Jamaican was the underdog entering tonight’s final at the Bird’s Nest against the previously unstoppable Gatlin, who breezed through the semi-final in 9.77, suggesting that something very fast could be coming in the final. 
 

Conversely, Bolt struggled mightily in the semis, stumbling out of the blocks en route to an ugly 9.96 win just two hours before his matchup with the American. With two polar opposite performances heading into the final, Gatlin appeared to have the gold medal within his reach. 

A premature lean, coupled with a stumble cost him a seemingly inevitable World title.

"I leaned a little too forward and got off balance. By trying to catch my balance, my arms got a little flaily and like I said, got nipped at the line," he said.

 

Gatlin had not lost an individual race since September 2013, the last time he faced Bolt, and had looked unbeatable throughout 2015 as he entered with a 9.74 season’s best. Bolt, on the other hand, had not run faster than 9.87 before Worlds, as an injury in the summer left his form in question despite his history in the event. 

 

But once again, Bolt found a way to get the job done, beating track’s most controversial figure in the process.

 

The 33-year-old Gatlin has twice been convicted of doping in his career, and many have been suspicious of his remarkable performances over the last two years, which have included PRs in both the 100m and 200m. 

 

A victory for Gatlin would have certainly been met with serious skepticism, but those headlines were put to rest at least for another day as Bolt once again stole the show in Beijing. The result didn’t seem likely entering tonight, but Bolt proved his resilience by defeating Gatlin against all odds.

 

For the American, the silver medal was a bitter consolation prize. 

 

“At the end of the day, I guess I would say I gave the race away the last five meters, the momentum, I was leaning forward, and I stumbled the last five meters coming across the finish line,” Gatlin said. 

 

Asked whether the pressure of the World Championships combined with the constant ridicule he has received as a convicted doper got to him, Gatlin said “The pressure? Nah, I’ve had pressure since 2011, man. It’s not the pressure, it’s just to come out here and run, it’s just the last five meters it wasn’t my day to do so.”

 

In the race behind these two, NCAA stars Trayvon Bromell and Andre De Grasse finished in a stunning tie for third in 9.92, and will share the bronze medal after officials could not differentiate their finishes. The two 20-year-olds won medals in their first appearances at the World Championships.

 

Americans Mike Rodgers and Tyson Gay were 5th and 6th in 9.94 and 10.00, respectively. Jamaican Asafa Powell, whose 9.81 was the second fastest time run in 2015 entering the final, was seventh in 10.00.

 

France’s Jimmy Vicaut and China's Bingtian Su rounded out the field in eighth and ninth, in 10.00 and 10.06, respectively.