Jamaica’s Usain Bolt became the first man to win the Olympic sprint double with two world records when he blazed to 200 metres gold in 19.30 seconds.
The 21-year-old, who eased up before setting a record of 9.69 in the 100m on Saturday, allowed himself no such indulgence in the longer race and dipped over the line to take two hundredths of a second off Michael Johnson’s 1996 mark.
“It’s great, I have a great feeling, it is a dream come true,” Bolt said. “I never expected this. I knew the track was a fast track but I didn’t think this was possible. I’m still shocked.
“I have been aspiring to the world record for so long. I have been saying all season that 200 means a lot more to me than 100. I’ve been dreaming of this since way back.”
Defending champion Shawn Crawford of the US took the silver in 19.96 after Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles was disqualified for running out of his lane and American Walter Dix got the bronze in 19.98.
Crawford and Dix finished fourth and fifth in the race but earned their medals because their compatriot Wallace Spearmon was also disqualified for stepping out of his lane.
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