Usain Bolt is beyond compare.
The world’s fastest man, the world-record holder in the 100- and 200-meter dashes _ and now, the first Olympian ever to win the 100 on three separate occasions.
The Jamaican hero added gold from the Rio Games to his titles from Beijing 2008 and London 2012 on Sunday night, winning the final in 9.81 seconds. He blew kisses to the crowd after surviving a slow start and running down Justin Gatlin of the U.S., then posed for photos with the Rio Games mascot.
Gatlin was second in 9.89 seconds. Canada’s Andre DeGrasse was third in 9,91 seconds.
Bolt becomes the 18th person with at least seven gold medals, and still has the 200 _ his favorite event _ and the 400-meter relay left to contest here in Rio.
Bolt has now won 21 of his 23 races all-time in world championship or Olympic 100-meter events. The two blemishes on that record: He was second in a quarterfinal at worlds in 2009 (when he went on to win gold and set a world record of 9.58 seconds), and false-started out of the final at worlds in 2011.