Perfect Bolt Claims 3 Golds

Jamaica sweeps sprinting events at World Athletics Championship in Moscow
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 18, 2013 10:30 AM CDT
Perfect Bolt Claims 3 Golds
Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates winning his third gold medal in the men's 4x100-meter relay at the World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013.    (David J. Phillip)

Usain Bolt is perfect again. And with three gold medals in Moscow, the Jamaican great became the most successful athlete in the 30-year history of the world championships. The 4x100-meter relay gold today erased the memories of the 100 title he missed out on in South Korea two years ago because of a false start. And, combined with an identical 100-200-relay triple from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Bolt was instrumental in giving Jamaica the first sweep of the six sprint events.

Bolt was still trailing Justin Gatlin when he got the baton on the anchor leg, but a botched US handover and his superior speed were enough to carry him, and Jamaica, to victory. He gritted his teeth, dipped at the line, and then grinned with relief. "I am very satisfied," Bolt said. Bolt had already won the 100 and 200 meters. It was his second such sprint triple at the world championships, matching the two he has achieved at the Olympics. With his victory, Bolt moved to the top of the all-time world championships medals table with eight gold and two silver, edging Carl Lewis, who has eight gold, one silver and one bronze. "A lot of energy here today," Bolt said. It's been an eventful World Athletics Championship: Two female Russian runners earlier kissed atop the winner's podium, causing quite a stir. (More Usain Bolt stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X