Bolt defends Olympic title in 9.63

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt defended his Olympic 100m title, overcoming a slow start to win in 9.63 seconds, a new Games record.

Bolt’s countryman, Yohan Blake, finished second in 9.75. American Justin Gatlin was third in 9.79.

Heading into the Olympics, there were questions about Bolt’s fitness. He lost to Blake at the Jamaican Trials in both the 100m and the 200m. Bolt had also suffered a minor setback after crashing his car earlier this summer.

Bolt’s time was just off his world record of 9.58 but faster than his 9.69 time from Beijing, four years ago. He celebrated by embracing Blake, who ran a PB, and doing several victory laps around the stadium, while fans chanted, “Usain.”

The heats of the 200m begin on Tuesday, and Bolt will attempt to become the first man in history to defend an Olympic title over that distance.

Canadian Justyn Warner didn’t advance past the semifinals, but he did tie his PB of 10.09 seconds in that race.