Bolt completes triple-triple as Jamaica wins 4x100m relay
The greatest sprinter ever will walk off the Olympic track unbeaten.
Usain Bolt is now a nine-time Olympic gold medalist after Jamaica prevailed in the 4x100m relay for the third games in a row.
Those relay medals go along with the golds Bolt won in the 100m and 200m in each of the past three Olympics. He's the only sprinter to win either of those events in three consecutive games, let alone both.
''There you go,'' Bolt said after the race. ''I am the greatest.''
The team consisting of Bolt, Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, and Nickel Ashmeade won in a time of 37.27, nearly a half-second slower than the 36.84 world-record time the Jamaicans set in the final of the 2012 Olympics.
Japan finished second in a time of 37.60 to take silver, with the Americans initially appearing to win the bronze medal. However, on review it was determined the first baton pass between Mike Rodgers and Justin Gatlin came outside of the exchange zone, disqualifying the U.S.
"It was the twilight zone. It was a nightmare," said Gatlin. "You work so hard with your teammates, guys you compete against almost all year long. All that hard work just crumbles."
As a result, Canada was moved up into bronze medal position, giving the Canadians their first Olympic medal in the event since winning gold in 1996. Andre De Grasse, who won bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200m, becomes the first Canadian to win three track and field medals in a single Olympic games since 1932.
In his final Olympic race, Bolt anchored the Jamaicans to a comfortable victory pulling away from the Americans and Japanese, a ninth gold medal the perfect way to conclude his unmatched career. It's not the last time the world will get to see Bolt, however, as he has already stated his intention to compete in next year's world championships.
As he did Thursday night, Bolt got down on his knees following the race and kissed the track, in essence saying goodbye to the games he has dominated for more than a decade.
All photos courtesy Action Images