Usian Bolt completes third 100-200 double

If it was in question before the 2015 world championships began, Usain Bolt solidified his position as the greatest sprinter of all time Thursday by winning the men’s 200m final on the same Beijing track where he first exploded onto the international sprint scene.

The Jamaican, who won the 100m earlier in the championships, bested American Justin Gatlin for the second time this week easily winning the 200m in 19.55, the fastest in the world this year.

The world record holder in both events, Bolt has won the 200m at world championships four times and the 100m three times. The only time since 2008 he hasn’t won the 100m or 200m at a major global championships was a false start disqualification in the 100m final at the 2011 world championships.

Bolt went in the world championships having under-performed after injuries most of this season. Many considered Gatlin the favourite in both events, being undefeated in any race since the 2013 world championships and having run, by wide margins, the fastest times in the world for 2015.

To me, even with all of Bolt’s titles and records, this is his greatest win. He showed that even with all odds against him he still delivers

— Richard Thompson (@TorpedoTT) August 23, 2015

Bolt is scheduled to race the 4x100m relay heats with his Jamaican teammates on Saturday. The Canadian team, led by Andre De Grasse, will also be competing in an event where they are medal-contenders.

Other results on Thursday included Allyson Felix of the United States winning the women’s 400m, her 11th world championship medal.

Canada’s Melissa Bishop set a new national record in her 800m heat, advancing to Saturday’s final. Charles Philibert-Thiboutot advanced to the men’s 1,500m semi-final from his heat in his first world championships appearance.