I’m a legend already, says Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt said he never had a single doubt in his mind that he would win the 200 metres title for the fourth straight world championships on Thursday, even if others were not so sure.

After a season where a pelvic problem limited him to a handful of sprints in times that were a long way from his world records, the Jamaican came to Beijing and pulled two big performances out of the bag to sweep the sprints.

While his victory over the in-form Justin Gatlin in the 100 metres on Sunday was by a mere hundredth of a second, in the 200 he pounded across the line in 19.55 seconds, nearly two tenths of a second ahead of the American (19.74).

“That is what I am here for,” he said. “I told you guys I am here to show the world I am the best. I want to be undoubtedly one of the greatest sprinters to have competed in this sport. That is my aim. I have two more seasons to go and I will just continue winning and dominating.

“I think I am already a legend. I have proved to the world. It is just adding to my legendary status now. If I want to be among the greats I have to keep on winning until I retire. That is my aim and that is what I want to do.”

The victory gave Bolt 10 world championship golds, two better than American track greats Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson in second place.

The Jamaican could make it 11 in the 4x100m relay on Saturday, where he hopes to take on Gatlin and his American team mates in a third clash of the championships.

The only time Bolt put a foot wrong the entire evening was when he was knocked over by a TV cameraman on a Segway during his lap of honour.

“I don’t know,” said Bolt when asked what happened. “I am starting a rumour that Justin Gatlin paid him off. That is what I am starting so write about that. I’m just saying.”

As for Gatlin, he was full of praise for Bolt, his admiration reinforced after sharing a word or two with him when the pair sat down trackside.

“He was tired I think it was a rare moment that the world gets to see Usain sit down after the race,” said Gatlin. “I sat down with him and I said ‘I am tired too man’. We have had a hectic season I ran a lot of fast times he started off the season pretty slow. For both of us to still go out here and run pretty fast has been an exciting season for both of us.

“I showed a lot of consistency in my performances in my races. To be able to come out here and get ready for 2016 it is going to make me more hungry to get to Rio and be able get on that podium again.”

Gatlin added that it was an honour to race against Bolt.

“Yeah he has done so much for the sport so much competitively,” he said. “I have never met a guy who has had so much competitive spirit other than myself, so to be able to go out there and run against some like that has been a true honour.”