I’ve nothing left to prove, I’m the greatest, says Bolt

The Jamaican ran into sporting immortality last night by becoming the first man to win the sprint double in successive Olympic Games.

Even in an Olympics rich in British success stories, the Jamaican superstar moved a step closer to being the biggest story of London 2012, just as he was four years ago when he rocked the sporting world in Beijing.

He won three golds in China, and after last night’s breathtaking run in the 200m, he can complete the hat-trick tomorrow in the 4x100m relay.

“It’s what I came here to do. I’m now a legend, I’m also the greatest athlete to live,” said 25-year-old Bolt after making history.

“I am in the same category as Michael Johnson. I’m honoured. It’s all about Michael Johnson for me. I grew up watching him break world records. He’s a great athlete.

“I did what I wanted. I came out of a rough season and I did what I had to do.

“It was hard for me, but I’m really dedicated to my work. I knew what London (Olympic Games) meant and I’m proud of myself.

“I’ve got nothing left to prove. I’ve showed the world I’m the best and, right now, I just want to enjoy myself.

“This is my moment. I’ll never forget this. Lane seven has been good to me these past couple of days.”

Yohan Blake followed him home in second in last night’s 200m final, just as he had done in Sunday’s 100m showdown.

Wallace Weir completed a Jamaican clean sweep of the podium, meaning the rest of the nations had better hope the yellow and green speed machine drops the baton on Saturday night, or they are fighting for silver and bronze.

There was no world record from Bolt this time, as there had been in Berlin at the world championships three years ago, when we probably saw him at the peak of his powers.

He stopped the clock at 19.32secs last night, matching the time in which Johnson won the Olympic title in Atlanta in 1996.

It was 11 tenths of a second slower than his own world record but after the first 100m he looked like he would blow it wide open.

Bolt has always been a supremely strong bend runner and so it proved again as he was up, away and past Weir on his outside by 50 metres and sprinting away from the field as he turned onto the home straight.

Credit Blake for reeling him in over the closing 30 metres as Bolt slowed, but such was the lead there was never any catching the fastest man in history.

“The 200m was harder than I expected,” said Bolt. “I could feel the pressure coming off the bend and that’s when I had to focus.

“I knew it (world record) would be possible. I came off the corner but I was not quick enough. I could feel the strain in my back a bit.

“It’s all about the 4x100m now, to have some fun and go out there and do our best.

“Jamaica has proven that we are the greatest sprint country.”

Blake added: “This is my first Olympics, I can’t complain.

“This moment here is special for Jamaica. This is so good to get the one, two, three.”

American Wallace Spearmon finished fourth, with a European pairing fifth and sixth. Churandy Martina of the Netherlands was fifth in 20 seconds flat and France’s Christophe Lemaitre – third in last year’s world championships – sixth in 20.19.

Spearmon had been expected to challenge Blake for second but the only American in the final never got close.

He said: “Congratulations to those guys (the three Jamaican medallists), they were superb.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported me. I am going to go home and work harder. I’m sorry I let everyone down.

“Those guys are on another planet right now.

“You have your good days, you have your bad days, you have these days. It wasn’t my best race, it wasn’t my worst race. It just wasn’t my day.

“There was never a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t finish in the top three. Right now it is just surreal, congratulations to them, I just have to work harder.”

Earlier in the day the British quartet of Nigel Levine, Conrad Williams, Jack Green and Martin Rooney progressed to tonight’s 4x400m relay final.

But the very fact that York’s Richard Buck was not in the squad for yesterday’s heat does not bode well for him earning a place in the team for tonight’s final.

The 25-year-old went out to Beijing as a member of the relay unit and was unable to compete as he was struck down by a virus.

Having to sit out tonight’s final will be another near miss for a man who stacked shelves in a supermarket to help finance his London 2012 after his funding was cut.

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