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Lightning Bolt strikes again in world record time

20/08/2008

Usain Bolt produced a blistering performance in the final of the 200m sprint at the Beijing Olympics to win gold in a world record time of 19.30secs.

The Jamaican, who destroyed the rest of the field as he romped home 15m clear, bettered Michael Johnson's 12-year-old - seemingly unbeatable - world record by 0.02secs.

In adding to the 100m sprint title and world record he achieved earlier this week, Bolt put in the maximum effort from start to finish - unlike several of his previous runs where he would clearly ease up near the line.

Bolt, who turns 22 tomorrow, produced a superb start out of the blocks and ran a near-perfect race around the bend to leave the other athletes trailing in his wake.

In stark contrast to his heats and his semi-final, the effort on the Jamaican's face was clear to see as he set about running down Johnson's amazing time from the Atlanta Games in 1996.

And as he crossed the line and checked the clock, Bolt was obviously overjoyed as he tugged at his shirt, threw off his trademark golden boots and celebrated in typically rhythmic style with his national flag draped around his shoulders.

"It's great, this is a dream come true," Bolt told the BBC afterwards.

"To tell you the truth I was a little bit worried because I was feeling a bit tired after the last couple of days.

"But I said to my coach, 'I'm going to come out and leave everything on the track', and that's what I did."

Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles got the silver medal in a national record time of 19.82secs - more than half a second behind Bolt.

And American Shawn Crawford claimed the bronze after the third-placed finisher, countryman Wallace Spearmon, was disqualified for stepping out of his lane on the bend.