Bolt Scores Amazing 3rd 200M Gold

Usain Bolt completed an unprecedented third consecutive sweep of the 100- and 200-meter sprints in Rio Thursday, an accomplishment that further elevated his status as the most decorated male sprinter in Olympic history, the AP reports. He won the 200-meter race with a time of 19.78 seconds to defeat Andre De Grasse of Canada. He had already claimed gold in the 100 in Rio. Bolt did a lengthy victory lap around the stadium, proudly carrying a Jamaican flag and even taking a selfie as he jubilantly celebrated the win in what he has long said is his favorite race. He wanted to lower his world record of 19.19 seconds, but light drizzle at the stadium contributed to a slightly slower winning time.

"I've proven to the world I'm the greatest," Bolt said. "This is what I came here for. That's what I'm doing. This is why I said this is my last Olympics—I can't prove anything else." Behind Bolt and silver medalist De Grasse, the difference between an Olympic medal and an also-ran was three thousandths of a second Thursday. Organizers said Christophe Lemaitre of France, Adam Gemili of Britain, and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands, who crossed the finish line in a blur, were separated by 0.006 seconds. It was Lemaitre who got to celebrate an unlikely bronze medal, with a time of 20.12. (More Usain Bolt stories.)