Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the men's 100m final at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, capital of China, on Aug. 23, 2015. (Photo: Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Usain Bolt is back!
The Jamaican, whose appearance in Beijing even was in doubt months before the world championships, stormed to defend his 100 meters world championship title in 9.79 seconds on Sunday at Beijing's iconic Bird's Nest where he turned into an athletics phenomenon with two world-record Olympic wins in the 100m and 200m as well as a gold medal from the 4x100m seven years ago.
Although the time was a far cry from his 9.58 world record as injury in the past two years took a toll on the multi-world and Olympic champion, the capacity stadium gave the 29-year-old a standing ovation.
China's Su Bingtian created history for the host country in world championships sprint event when he became the first Chinese to run the blue-ribbon sprint event final at the outdoor world championships.
Former world and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin came to the world championships with this year's leading time of 9.74 but had to settle for the silver in 9.80.
"On the last five meters I kind of stumbled a little bit," said the 33-year-old Gatlin, who has been in a brilliant form, not yet losing once since the 2013 world championships, winning all 22 races. "Everyone wants to come out here and win, but I came out here, got nibbed at the line by great Usain. Hopefully I have more great races to come."
Bolt's participation in Beijing looked in doubt until two 9.87-second runs over 100m at a cold and rainy IAAF Diamond League meeting in London on 25 July.
"The title means a lot to me. It has been a long season. Me coming back from injury," he said.
His title run also had seemed a hard one as 33-year-old in-form Gatlin has been in a brilliant form, not yet losing once since the 2013 world championships, winning all 22 races.
"That still was not the best. I still stumbled. I came out here, relaxed, no stress and brought it home," said Bolt who covered his face with both hands and faked playing "hide and seek" before the camera right before the start.
"My aim is to be the number one until I retire. And therefore I am pushing myself and pushing myself. It is all about running the race and getting it done. You can call that race rusty. I could have run faster."
Trayvon Bromell of the United States and Andre de Grasse from Canada tied for the third in 9.92.
