Justin Gatlin from the United States became one of the youngest winners of the 100m Olympic title on Sunday in one of the greatest finals of all time.
The 22-year-old posted a personal best time of 9,85 seconds to beat Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, who timed a European record of 9,86, while 2000 Olympic champion Maurice Greene was third in a season’s best 9,87.
The first five all finished in less than 10 seconds making it one of the fastest races to date.
For Gatlin it represents a heady rise to the top after a troubled early career.
In 2001, he tested positive for amphetamines and was hit with a two-year ban which was reduced to one-year after he appealed on the grounds he required treatment for attention deficit disorder.
Gatlin charged down early leader and world champion Kim Collins, and though Obikwelu was catching him with every stride the youngster dipped perfectly at the line to get the decision.
Gatlin said that it was due reward for all the hard work he had put in.
”It means the world to me,” said Gatlin.
”This is the reason I am here to win the gold medal. This is the reason I train, this is the reason why I shovel snow off tracks in North Carolina [where he trains].”
The Nigerian-born, naturalised Portuguese Obikwelu had the consolation of breaking the European record shared by Linford Christie and disgraced European champion Dwain Chambers.
Greene defied expectations in claiming a medal as he fought hard from the seventh lane to try and retain his title on a track where he won the first of his three world titles in 1997 and where he broke the world record two years later.
However, this defeat follows the loss of his world record in 2002, his world title last year and the Olympic gold leaving the once feared ”Kansas Comet” a mountain to climb to get back to the top.
But the 30-year-old remained defiant about the future.
”The young guys are coming but I am not done yet,” he said.
”I am still coming back. I am still the greatest in the world.
”When you look at the things that I’ve achieved I’m making it difficult for the next person to come along and do what I did.”
Before the start, Greene had kneeled and prayed for two minutes while his countrymen avoided any contact with him.
Despite Greene’s defiance, Gatlin insisted that his compatriot’s era was over.
”Maurice is one of the greatest competitors in the world,” said the new Olympic champion.
”However this is a new era, the young guys are coming.”
Gatlin’s stablemate Shawn Crawford, who like the winner is coached by the controversial Trevor Graham, was unable to produce his form of the heats and was fourth while Asafa Powell of Jamaica was fifth and Collins came in sixth.
Graham, who is involved in a bitter dispute with former stars Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery who have both been subject to allegations about doping, said Gatlin’s win showed he had the right formula.
”It shows we have the programme and it speaks for itself.
”It gives an inspiration to the young guys that they can reach the heights … the same heights as Justin,” he said.
Powell proved the big disappointment of the race having looked relaxed in his heats.
”It wasn’t the race I expected,” said the 21-year-old, who had promised a world record for the event.
”I fell from the blocks and the race was too short. I didn’t get a good start but I’m okay about it,” added Powell, who was disqualified in the world championships quarterfinals last year. – Sapa-AFP