Beijing, Saturday, August 16, 2008 – Usain Bolt won the 100m race in world record time of 9.69 seconds. If he hadn’t become theatrical with 10m to go, looking around and thumping his chest, he might even have gone under 9.6sec.

Bolt had an average start and at 30m, he was mid-pack. Richard Thompson, in Lane 5, was just ahead of him. Compatriot Asafa Powell, a contender for the gold, also started well.

Bolt, who was obviously running just to win and not timing, dropped his hands with 20m to go after he was sure of victory. With 10m to go, he thumped his chest with his right hand.

Bolt, who took 41 steps compared to 44 for the rest, does not have the usual physique of a 100m sprinter that most have come to expect. While sprinters these days are short and muscular, Bolt is 6-foot-5 – tall for a sprinter.

For the record, Richard Thompson finished second in 9.89sec while American Walter Dix was third in 9.91sec.

Next up for Bolt is the 200m, his specialty.