Bolt smashes world record for 100m gold

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won gold in the 100m in Beijing in a world-record time of 9.69 seconds.

Bolt produced a blistering finish to leave his rivals trailing and lower his own world-record mark by three hundredths of a seconds.

Richard Thompson of Trinidad claimed the silver medal, with American Walter Dix taking bronze.

Thompson crossed the line in a personal-best time of 9.89 with Dix finishing in 9.91, also a personal best.

Bolt’s fellow countryman Asafa Powell, one of the pre-race favourites could only manage fifth in 9.95 as six men went under 10 seconds.

Bolt powered away from the rest of the field in the final 30 minutes and even found time to begin his celebrations before crossing the line.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica, second left, and Walter Dix of United States, right, compete in a semifinal of the men's 100-meter during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008. Other runners are Michael Frater of Jamaica, left, and Tyrone Edgar of Britain. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)