Usain Bolt loses to Justin Gatlin in 100m final at World Championships
For once, the fastest man of all time is left behind his rivals, as veteran sprinter Justin Gatlin takes gold.
Sunday 6 August 2017 11:31, UK
Usain Bolt lost for the first time in four years as American Justin Gatlin beat him in his 100m farewell race.
The Jamaican superstar was competing in his last solo race in a championships before retiring, but was edged out by Americans Christian Coleman and Justin Gatlin.
Gatlin, 35, was booed by many in the sell-out London crowd when it was announced he had clinched the world championship title.
Bolt got a slow start and came in at 9.95 - unable to surge past his rivals in the closing seconds as he has done on so many occasions.
Gatlin took the win in 9.92, with Coleman clocking 9.94.
Despite not going according to the script, fans packing the Olympic stadium were treated to a lap of honour as Bolt thanked the crowd and struck his iconic pose.
"I'm sorry I couldn't end it on a winning note, but I want to thank you for your support," said the sprinter - who admitted his race had been "very poor".
New world champion Gatlin, who served a doping ban between 2006 and 2010, was embraced by Bolt after he crossed the line.
He told the BBC: "The first thing he did was congratulate me and say that I didn't deserve the boos. He is an inspiration."
Gatlin was the last man to have beaten Bolt over 100m - by just a hundredth of a second in Rome in 2013.
Despondent Bolt fans still have a chance to see their hero take gold, however - the 30-year-old is part of the 4x100m team.