BEIJING, China – Usain Bolt dominated the men’s 200m to secure another World Championships sprint double after running 19.55 seconds to beat Justin Gatlin.
Bolt got out very fast and ran a blinding corner as he head into the straight with a slight lead.
He was challenged by Gatlin briefly in the home straight, but the Jamaican fended off the efforts of the American to post a world-leading mark.
Gatlin was second in 19.74, with South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana taking the bronze in 19.87.
“I feel tired,” Gatlin revealed. “Going through 3 100s and 3 200s in such a short amount of time, it’s taxing on the body.
“But it was an honor to come out here and raise a flag for my country. There were people from our country who weren’t able to get to the podium or to the semifinals and I had to go out there and put them on my shoulders and compete to the best of my abilities.
“At the end of the day, I went in there with my game plan and my coach said to me, ‘run the curve. Come off the curve, attack and come off the curve. Keep holding on.’
“I think he was in my window last night. (laughs) We had the same strategy and when I came off the curve, he was right there running with me. Coming home, I gave all I could give at this point in time. I’m going to get some rest and get ready for the relays.”
Bolt, with the victory, becomes a 10-time World Championships gold medals, while winning his fourth 200m world title.
Meanwhile, Allyson Felix ran away with the women’s 400m gold medal after clocking a personal best and world leading time of 49.26 seconds to beat Bahamian Shaunae Miller, who won the silver medal in a personal best of 49.67 and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who also produced a lifetime best of 49.99 for the bronze.
“It’s weird. It’s different to be down there for the 400. For me, it’s just I’m happy I was able to be successful and just trust in the plan and put one together.”
“It gives me confidence in my fitness. It’s something Bobby (Kersee) had been telling me all year long, just to trust in it and prove that I can do the process. I can train and execute my race plan,” Felix said.
“It’s weird. It’s bitter. It’ll be hard to watch [the 200]. It’s going to be a fantastic race, there’s a lot of talent in there.
“It’s my first 400 title. It’s a huge blessing…I felt like I was finally able to put together what I needed to do to execute.”
