Usain Bolt leads Jamaica to 4x100m relay gold with new world records

Usain Bolt (C) of Jamaica competes during the men's 4x100m relay final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. The Jamaican team won the title with 37.10 seconds and set a new world record.(Xinhua Photo)


Two sprint gold medals winner Usain Bolt led Jamaica to the men's 4x100 meters win with a new world record at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Friday.

Bolt, who broke both the 100m and 200m world records en route to the gold medals, ran the third leg and gave the Jamaicans a big lead before handing the baton to Asafa Powell, the former world 100m record holder.

Powell easily anchored the race in 37.10 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 37.40 set by the United States in the 1992 Olympic Games. All of the Jamaican quartet could run 100m within 10 seconds.

Trinidad and Tobago, led by 100m silver medalist Richard Thompson, took the silver in 38.06 seconds and Japan won the bronze in 38.15.

Jamaican, also including Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, had not been really challenged in the final since the most favorite teams of the United States, Britain and Nigeria had been either disqualified or failed to finish the qualifying round.




Asafa Powell, Michael Frater, Nesta Carter and Usain Bolt (L to R)of Jamaica pose for photos by the results board with their new world record after the men's 4x100m relay final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. The Jamaican team won the title with 37.10 seconds and set a new world record. (Xinhua/Liao Yujie)


Japanese team, with a surprise, won the bronze medal in 38.15 seconds to update their seasonal best result. It has been also the best result for Asian countries in the men's Olympic 4x100m relay events.







Courtesy : news.xinhuanet.com