Usain Bolt: Two more golds and I´ll be immortal

Usain Bolt says he will only achieve “immortal” status in athletics if he completes the ‘triple-triple’ at Rio 2016.

The Jamaican sprint sensation became the first man to win three 100 metre titles as he blew away the competition to win Sunday’s final in a time of 9.81 seconds, with great rival Justin Gatlin a relatively distant second.

Bolt will now switch his focus to the 200m and 4x100m relay as he attempts to win three golds for the third successive Games, an achievement he says will define his legendary career.

“Somebody said I can become immortal. Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal,” Bolt, who insists this Olympics will be his last, said after his latest triumph.

“It was brilliant. I didn’t go so fast but I’m so happy I won. I told you guys I was going to do it.”

Bolt’s time was the fastest he has run in the 100m in 2016, but he feels he could have gone quicker had the turnaround from the semi-finals not been so swift.

“After the semi-finals I felt extremely good and, as I said, I wanted to run faster,” he told BBC Sport.

“But just the turnaround time they gave us, normally we get two hours to two hours 20 minutes, [but] we got like an hour and 20 minutes.

“So as soon as we got around I didn’t get any time to rest, put my feet up and get the lactic [acid] out. We had to come right back out. It’s challenging but it’s what we train for.”

While Bolt was given a hero’s reception on his way to the start line, there were noticeable jeers for the controversial Gatlin, who has twice been suspended for doping violations.

“I was surprised. It’s the first time I ever came into a stadium and they actually booed somebody, so for me it was shocking,” Bolt added.

“But for me I didn’t care about that. I’m here to perform and do what I have to do and that’s what I did, I came out and did what I have to do.”