A packed London crowd who applauded Bolt 5 years earlier after his gold medal success in the capital, had to make do with the bronze medal in the 100 metres final after rival Justin Gatlin denied the Jamaican.
The controversial American runner, who has twice been banned in his career for drug offences, stormed to the line in 9.92, with fellow American – Christian Coleman – following in silver position at 9.94.
Gatlin, who won gold at the Olympics in 2004, was booed throughout the race build-up, and even when receiving his medal the following day at the medal presentation.
For Bolt, who couldn’t follow up, what he did in the same stadium in 2012, said to the BBC of his rival “Gatlin is a great competitor. You have to be at your best against him. I really appreciate competing against him and he is a good person.”
One final chance to grace the international stage for Bolt ended in dramatic fashion when he suffered from muscle cramp in Jamaica’s 4×100 relay race and pulled up.
10 years and 11 world championship gold medals in the making cement’s Bolts career as the very best and one of the greatest athletes to grace the stage of sport.
