Usain Bolt gives Jamaica its first Olympic sprint champion

Usain Bolt won the 100 meters in a time, 9.69 seconds, that broke his own 11-week old own world record of 9.72 and could have been so much faster had he not turned the end of the race into Carnival.

His rivals still couldn't catch up. Richard Thompson of Trinidad & Tobago ran a personal best 9.89 and was further from first than any Olympic silver medalist since 1984. Walter Dix of the United States was third in a personal best 9.91, and Churandy Martina fourth in a Netherlands Antilles record 9.93.

Asafa Powell of Jamaica, the former world record-holder, had two left feet at the big dance again, finishing fifth. Reigning world champion Tyson Gay of the United States was eliminated in the semifinals, unable to make up for time lost to a hamstring injury six weeks ago.

``In the past the United States sprinters dominated," Thompson said. ``It feels good for the Caribbean to be creating this kind of dominance, and for me to be a part of it."

Never before Saturday had there been more than three Caribbean sprinters in an Olympic men's 100 final. Never before had there been three Jamaicans or a Jamaican champion, even if émigrés Linford Christie won for Great Britain in 1992 and Donovan Bailey for Canada in 1996. Hasely Crawford of Trinidad & Tobago was the only previous Caribbean athlete to win the 100 title (1976) for his own country.

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Yaaay, these are the Olympics I remember..

Staying up waaay past my bedtime to watch Carl Lewis, Linford Christie, Flo Jo etc with my mum.. The athletics was the only reason I used to watch the games...

Well Done Usain, I'm so proud of him... I can just imagine the celebrations going on in his hometown at the moment.. I hope it's the first of MANY gold medals in Beijing.