(Photo credit: Xinhua)
(Photo credit: Xinhua)
Silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago ran a time of 9.89 seconds, leaving American Walter Dix at 9.91 seconds to take the bronze.
Bolt broke his own world record of 9.72 seconds, which he set in June this year. The Olympic record stood at 9.84 seconds, set by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Bolt came from relative obscurity to worldwide attention in the 100m at a Grand Prix event on Long Island, New York, in late May, after demolishing the field and breaking the world record in a time of 9.72 seconds, a stunning result for anyone, let alone a runner who had been seen as a 200m specialist.
Reigning world champion Tyson Gay failed to qualify after running a time of 10.05 seconds in the semifinals. Gay was the United States best chance for gold.
