LONDON – Usain Bolt ended his glorious solo track career with a bronze in the men’s 100m sprint as Justin Gatlin claimed gold here at the World Athletics Championships.
The eight-time Olympic champion, who will retire at the end of the championships following the 4x100m relay next weekend, clocked in at 9.95 seconds but it wasn’t enough to defend his 2015 title as his American stormed to victory in 9.92 secs.
Christian Coleman of America took silver with 9.94 secs.
This marks the first time that Bolt has failed to take gold in any 100m final at the Olympics and World Championships.
Michael Johnson had said ahead of the competition that Bolt was “more vulnerable” than ever in his bid to retain his title as ‘the fastest man on earth’.
On the big occasion here at the London Stadium, the American’s words proved prescient as the 30-year-old struggled to reach the same stellar heights of five years ago that saw him clinch Olympic gold in the 100m and 200m finals.
After a disappointing performance in the first-round heats, which Bolt described as “very bad”, the 30-year-old qualified as second fastest for tonight’s final behind Coleman, with a time of 9.98 seconds.
