Lightning lit up the Moscow sky as Usain Bolt regained his 100m world title, the big Jamaican taking on the role of fireman, extinguishing flames that have threatened to consume the sport.
It is not the first time the 26-year-old superstar has come to athletics rescue.
His record-breaking exploits at the Beijing Olympics, which saw him win three gold and break the 100m world record, served to divert attention away from the drug scandal involving the sport's one-time poster girl Marion Jones and her ex-boyfriend and former 100m world record-holder Tim Montgomery.
Indeed at the time he was winning his three gold medals she was serving a six month jail sentence for perjury over the scandal.
He also restored lustre to the title of Olympic 100m champion when predecessor Justin Gatlin was unable to defend his title as he was serving an initial eight-year doping ban -- which was reduced to four.
Those two worlds -- the good and the bad -- collided on Sunday as Bolt overcame 31-year-old Gatlin, who returned to competition when his ban ended in 2010, to take the gold.
Then the two appeared to bury the hatchet -- Bolt had in a rare moment of irritation described the American as "annoying" earlier this season -- as Gatlin hugged him and graciously shook his hand.
Gatlin has served his time but defeating Bolt would not have been the script the organisers and sport authorities would have liked for there were other ghosts for the track star to lay to rest.
Bolt's recapture of his 100m title will drive into the background, for the moment at least, the doping scandal surrounding closest rival, and the second fastest man of all time, American Tyson Gay as well as Bolt's close friend Asafa Powell.
Bolt, though, has never been one to point the finger or to lambast someone for failing a test, preferring to refocus people's minds on his exploits on the track instead.
However, while the battle against doping and the seemingly endless sequence of positive tests -- both at the top and the bottom -- will go on, there is only a finite time left for Bolt to keep the sport on the front pages for the right reasons.
Bolt also has the common touch with the spectators, understanding that as well as competing in a sport it is also important to provide entertainment for the crowd.
And unlike other entertainers from the sporting world, who fall short when it comes to delivering titles, Bolt has an incredible ability to be able to play to the crowd before a final, then focus on his race and blitz the field.
He did not let them down on Sunday.
He mimed putting up an umbrella with heavy rain falling -- and appropriately lightning bolts lit up the sky around the stadium -- and stood there Charlie Chaplin-esque waiting to be called to the blocks.
He had them eating out of his hand and with the noise rising to levels where it would be difficult to hear the starter he raised his finger to his lips and the crowd went silent.
Bolt has made it clear why he feels obliged to give something back to the spectators.
"This is what I do. I've said it," he said. "A lot of people come out to see what I'm going to do today, tomorrow and it's fun for them.
"I enjoy showing them and giving them the joy I get out of doing this because they give me the energy to do it so I'm always hungry."
The athletics authorities and the spectators will hope that his hunger is not sated any time soon for then there might be no-one around to fill his enormous shoes and save the sport.
AFP
Mon Aug 12 2013
![Usain Bolt regained his 100m world title Usain Bolt regained his 100m world title](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-08/51376274751_295x200.jpg)
IOC tolak khabar angin pembatalan Sukan Olimpik Paris
Jawatankuasa Olimpik Antarabangsa (IOC) menolak "khabar angin" mengenai pembatalan atau penangguhan Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 berikutan situasi politik di Perancis. IOC menyatakan ia adalah sebahagian daripada kempen maklumat palsu.
Warga London berharap tapi tidak optimis
Penduduk di London mempunyai pandangan dan jangkaan yang bercampur baur dengan sebilangan berasa optimistik dengan keputusan yang bakal diterima manakala yang lain mengatakan mereka tidak akan mengundi.
Parti Buruh diramalkan tewaskan Konservatif pimpinan Sunak
Tinjauan pendapat meletakkan parti Starmer di landasan untuk mendapatkan kemenangan besar tetapi juga mencadangkan ramai pengundi hanya mahukan perubahan selepas tempoh perbalahan dan pergolakan di bawah Konservatif
Enam ditahan kes rempuhan di utara India
Insiden itu berlaku pada Selasa (2 Julai) di kampung Phulrai Mughal Garhi, di daerah Hathras, di mana kira-kira 250,000 orang berkumpul untuk mendengar ceramah seorang pendakwah terkenal.
Levi majikan hanya digunakan untuk latihan kemahiran - PSMB
PSMB menegaskan bahawa levi majikan sememangnya hanya digunakan untuk tujuan latihan pekerja mereka sahaja selama ini.
Enakmen Lembah Klang Raya dibentang tahun hadapan - Amirudin
Enakmen Lembah Klang Raya Selangor dijangka dibentang dan dibahaskan di Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor pada tahun hadapan, kata Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Noh Omar sah sertai Bersatu berkuat kuasa serta-merta
Bekas Pengerusi UMNO Selangor, Tan Sri Noh Omar sah menyertai Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) berkuat kuasa serta-merta.
Lelaki ditahan didakwa laku gangguan seksual ketika kempen
Suspek direman selama dua hari untuk siasatan lanjut dan polis memberi jaminan akan menjalankan siasatan secara terperinci.
Muhyiddin dapatkan khidmat Peguam Diraja
Bekas Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mendapatkan khidmat Peguam Diraja (King’s Counsel) untuk menyertai barisan pembelaannya dalam usaha beliau membatalkan keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan yang mengembalikan empat pertuduhan salah guna kuasa terhadapnya.
Dua polis parah, seorang suspek maut
Ketua Polis Daerah Muar ACP Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz berkata melalui siasatan awal, pihaknya mendapati dua anggota polis berkenaan sedang dalam tugasan rondaan dan cuba menahan kereta dinaiki suspek, untuk tujuan pemeriksaan.
![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.