Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt cemented his status as a true legend of track and field by claiming a second Olympic treble gold medal haul at the London Games.
Bolt followed up his podium-topping showing in Beijing in 2008 by becoming the first sprinter to defend both the 100m and 200m.
He then led home the 4x100m relay team in a world record-breaking 36.84sec to cap a pulsating nine days of track and field at the Olympic Stadium in east London.
"It's what I came here to do. I'm now a legend, I'm the greatest athlete to live," said Bolt.
"For 2013, the objective is to go as fast as possible and win the 100m title at the world championships in Moscow," which run between August 10-18.
Rarely can there have been a week's athletics as enthralling and entertaining as that at the London Olympics.
Every session at the 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium was a sell-out, and the knowledgeable public helped make for an electric atmosphere, notably on the first Saturday when Britain won three gold medals in the space of 45 frenetic minutes.
While Bolt stole the headlines for his sprinting prowess, David Rudisha also produced an outstanding performance on the track, although his Kenyan team endured a relatively disappointing Games.
The Masai tribesman obliterated his own world record in the 800m, running 1:40.91 in the highest quality two-lap race ever seen. Last-placed Andrew Osagie's time would have won him gold in the Beijing Games by 0.88sec.
Britain's gold medal rush was kicked off by poster-girl Jessica Ennis, who dominated the heptathlon.
She was superseded by Mo Farah, a devout Muslim born in Somalia but a London resident since the age of eight, who galvanised a nation in the most multi-cultural of world cities when he became the seventh runner to win the 5000m-10,000m double.
The sheer spectacle on the final night's action when Farah kicked for home with just over a lap of the 5000m remaining was a spine-tingling experience those in the stadium will never forget.
The track and field also broke new ground when South African Oscar Pistorius became the first double amputee to race in an Olympics.
He failed to qualify for the individual 400m final, but anchored his team in the 4x400m relay final, in which they finished last.
The United States finished atop the athletics medals table with a total of 29 medals, comprising nine gold, 13 silver and seven bronze, for their best haul since the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
Russia came in second with 18 (8-4-6) and the Bolt-inspired Jamaica in third on 12 (4-4-4).
There was also a world record for American Aries Merritt in the men's 110m hurdles, the American clocking 12.80sec at the Diamond League meet in Brussels to smash the previous record of 12.87 set by Cuban Dayron Robles in June 2008.
Bolt and American sprinter Allyson Felix were named the International Amateur Athletics Federation's athletes of the year.
It was the fourth time in the last five years that Bolt has won the award, but the first time for Felix, who also won three golds in London, in the 200m and in both the women's relay races.
The highest-profile casualty in the war on doping was Belarus shot putter Nadezhda Ostapchuk, who was stripped of her Olympic gold after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid.
New Zealand's Valerie Adams was handed gold, but Ostapchuk only received a one-year ban because her coach had doctored her food without her knowledge.
Four medallists from the 2004 Olympic Games were officially stripped of their medals by the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC took the decision after new analysis of their dope tests taken at the Athens Games revealed traces of steroids.
Ukraine's Yuri Belonog was stripped of his shot put gold, Belarus' Ivan Tikhon of his silver in the hammer, and Irina Yatchenko of Belarus and Russian Svetlana Krivelyova lost their bronze medals in the women's discus and shot put respectively.
It is the second Olympic medal Tikhon has been stripped of, having had his bronze from the 2008 Games taken away also for a doping offence.
Ironically, the disgraced Ostapchuk was promoted to the podium in place of Krivelyova and will receive a bronze.
AFP
Sat Dec 15 2012
![Olympic king Bolt seals legend status Olympic king Bolt seals legend status](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2012-12/71355548571_120x90.jpg)
![Agong berkenan berangkat ke pra-Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja ke-266 Agong berkenan berangkat ke pra-Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja ke-266](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721119877_SultanIbrahim.jpg)
Agong berkenan berangkat ke pra-Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja ke-266
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim berkenan berangkat ke pra-Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja (MRR) ke-266 di Istana Negarahari ini.
![Status ADUN Rembia: DUN Melaka tunggu surat rasmi Status ADUN Rembia: DUN Melaka tunggu surat rasmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108165_ADUNRembiaPN.jpg)
Status ADUN Rembia: DUN Melaka tunggu surat rasmi
Speaker DUN Melaka, Datuk Ibrahim Durum berkata, setakat ini pihaknya belum dimaklumkan secara rasmi dan perbincangan berhubung perkara itu akan diadakan.
![Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721119130_wargaemasbersalah.jpg)
Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar
Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini mensabitkan kesalahan seorang warga emas atas dua pertuduhan pindaan membunuh abang dan kakak iparnya dua tahun lalu.
![PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721120782_TBMASERMIEYATI.jpg)
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin berkata tempoh itu diberikan susulan laporan audit berkaitan, baru dibentangkan pada minggu lepas.
![Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721118437_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi
Penambahbaikan aspek perundangan akan diteliti kerajaan, termasuk mengadakan perbincangan dengan beberapa kementerian berkaitan dalam masa terdekat.
![Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-12/81575261818_GobindSinghDeo.jpg)
Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind
Beliau menegaskan bahawa pelaksanaan e-Invois itu akan memberi manfaat, termasuk meningkatkan pendapatan PKS.
![Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai? Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721117483_KimPangon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?
Bekas pengendali skuad negara itu dilaporkan sedang menjadi calon utama untuk mengisi jawatan pengurus kelab gergasi Korea Selatan, Ulsan Hyundai.
![Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/41482504881_TamanTasikTitiwang.jpg)
Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau
Daripada keluasan itu, sebanyak 977.55 hektar tanah telah diwartakan, manakala 1,416.24 hektar tanah lapang yang berpotensi akan dan sedang dalam proses diwartakan.
Guna jawatan untuk projek pembekalan, suami isteri ditahan
Sepasang suami isteri direman enam hari dalam siasatan penyalahgunaan jawatan untuk mendapatkan projek pembekalan bernilai lebih RM200,000.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
DBKL ubah lalu lintas Jalan Sultan Ismail bermula 22 Julai
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) akan melaksanakan perubahan lalu lintas di Jalan Sultan Ismail berkuat kuasa 22 Julai ini.
![Bintang muda Jamaica lebur rekod 22 tahun milik Usain Bolt Bintang muda Jamaica lebur rekod 22 tahun milik Usain Bolt](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41712388676_NickecoyBramwell.jpg)
Bintang muda Jamaica lebur rekod 22 tahun milik Usain Bolt
Bintang muda Jamaica mencipta sejarah dengan memecahkan rekod dunia Usain Bolt dalam acara 400 meter bagi kategori B17.
![Hughes pecah rekod 30 tahun British Hughes pecah rekod 30 tahun British](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/81687673838_TBHughes.jpg)
Hughes pecah rekod 30 tahun British
Pelari Britain berusia 27 tahun itu meninggalkan pelari Jamaica, Ackeem Blake dan Christian Coleman dari Amerika Syarikat pada separuh perlumbaan untuk memenangi saingan itu.
![Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/71672348957_Pele.jpg)
Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele
Pele meninggal dunia pada usia 82 tahun selepas bertarung dengan kanser kolon.
![Saya mahu dikenali sebagai Azeem Fahmi, bukan 'Usain Bolt Malaysia' Saya mahu dikenali sebagai Azeem Fahmi, bukan 'Usain Bolt Malaysia'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/81658766705_Pelaripecutmudane.jpg)
Saya mahu dikenali sebagai Azeem Fahmi, bukan 'Usain Bolt Malaysia'
Pelari pecut muda negara Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi mahu menghapuskan julukan 'Usain Bolt Malaysia', pada penampilannya di Kejohanan Olahraga Dunia Bawah 20 Tahun di Cali, Colombia.
![Olahraga: Muhammad Azeem cipta rekod peribadi baharu acara 100m Olahraga: Muhammad Azeem cipta rekod peribadi baharu acara 100m](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-06/51655589297_Pelaripecutmudane.jpg)
Olahraga: Muhammad Azeem cipta rekod peribadi baharu acara 100m
Catatan itu memperbaharui rekod peribadi 100m berbanding 10.37s yang dicatat sebelum ini.
![Bolt tidak terfikir kembali ke balapan Bolt tidak terfikir kembali ke balapan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/61627363259_Usain.jpg)
Bolt tidak terfikir kembali ke balapan
Usain Bolt tidak memikirkan untuk kembali ke pentas olahraga walaupun berasakan godaan untuk membuat penampilan semula.
![Tokyo 2020: Bekas bintang olahraga gembira pengaruh Usain Bolt makin terhakis Tokyo 2020: Bekas bintang olahraga gembira pengaruh Usain Bolt makin terhakis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/61627363259_Usain.jpg)
Tokyo 2020: Bekas bintang olahraga gembira pengaruh Usain Bolt makin terhakis
Penguasaan Usain Bolt dalam acara pecut tidak bagus untuk olahraga berikutan kejohanan trek dan padang tertentu sukar mendapat liputan meluas.
![Tokyo 2020: Perbaiki hubungan dengan bapa faktor kemenangan Jacobs Tokyo 2020: Perbaiki hubungan dengan bapa faktor kemenangan Jacobs](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/71627871230_MarcellJacobs.jpg)
Tokyo 2020: Perbaiki hubungan dengan bapa faktor kemenangan Jacobs
Jacobs, yang berpindah dari acara lompat jauh, melakukan catatan masa di bawah 10 saat buat pertama kali pada bulan Mei.
![Tokyo 2020: Marcell Jacobs ungguli emas acara 100 meter Tokyo 2020: Marcell Jacobs ungguli emas acara 100 meter](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/51627824957_LamontMarcellJacobs.jpg)
Tokyo 2020: Marcell Jacobs ungguli emas acara 100 meter
Ia selepas Jacobs, 26 tahun memenangi acara 100m lelaki dalam pusingan akhir di Stadium Olimpik Tokyo sebentar tadi.
![Usain Bolt timang anak kembar lelaki Usain Bolt timang anak kembar lelaki](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/71624244380_usainbolt.jpg)
Usain Bolt timang anak kembar lelaki
Pasangan kembar lelaki itu diberi nama Thunder Bolt dan Saint Leo Bolt.