Usain Bolt stormed to an unprecedented ‘triple triple’ of Olympic golds at the Rio Games on Friday, promptly declaring himself “the greatest”.
Bolt won gold medals in the 100m and 200m made it a repeat of Beijing 2008 and London 2012 by helping the Jamaican team to anchor the title in the men’s 4x100m relay.
Bolt and his compatriots, Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmease, bossed the race to win in 37.27 seconds.
The US finished second but were disqualified, promoting Japan into silver and Canada up to bronze.
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“I told the guys that if they didn’t come through for me I’d beat them up!” Bolt joked.
“They really came through for me and I’m happy to have done what I came here to do.
“I’m just happy and relieved.”
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After completing the triple triple he declared himself the greatest.
“I’ve done it and it’s unreal. I never knew from the start that this was going to happen to me and now it has it’s a brilliant feeling. I am the greatest.”
The world’s fastest man, who celebrates his 30th birthday on Sunday, signed off from his sport’s biggest stage in trademark fashion as he took the baton from Nickel Ashmeade and, knees high and arms pumping, stormed away from second-placed Japan to huge cheers.
Usain Bolt won all three events at the previous two Olympic Games, in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.
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The 30-year-old was competing in his last event at an Olympic Games when he ran on Friday night
Bolt is now a nine-time Olympic champion.
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