London 2012: Day 15 Usain Bolt & friends smash 4x100m relay world record / London 2012 Olympics

Usain Bolt claimed his third gold medal of the London 2012 Games as Jamaica won the men’s 4x100m relay at the Olympic Stadium in a world record time.

The Jamaican quartet of Bolt, Yohan Blake, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater were too good for their nearest rivals, a US team boasting the talents of Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin.

Bolt received the baton with Jamaica already in the lead and crossed the line in 36.85 seconds, smashing the previous record of 37.04 secs and Olympic record of 37.10 secs.

While an over enthusiastic lady straddles a laughing Bolt, it’s probably an appropriate time to tell you that the United States secured 4x100m relay silver with a national record 37.04, while Trinidad and Tobago (38.12) clinched bronze. In fourth were France, who were four hundredths of a seconds behind the bronze medallist.

Bolt didn’t get that souvenir. He’ll have to be happy heading home with three gold medals for the second Summer Games in a row.

About even with the last U.S. runner when he got the stick, Bolt steadily pulled away over the last 100 meters, gritting his teeth and leaning at the line to cap his perfect 3-for-3 Olympics by leading Jamaica to the sprint relay title in 36.84 seconds on Saturday night.

When crossing the line Bolt appeared to copy Mo Farah’s ‘Mo-Bot’ celebration, after the Brit won the 5,000m earlier in the night.

It was the same Jamaican quartet of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and Bolt that set the previous mark of 37.04 at the world championships in Daegu last year.

The United States team of Trell Kimmons, individual bronze medallist Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey won silver in 37.04 to equal the old record.

Canada finished third but were disqualified, leaving the athletes in tears on the track as Trinidad and Tobago were awarded the bronze.

1 Carter, Frater, Blake, Bolt,  Jamaica
2 Gatlin, Gay, Bailey, Demps,  USA
3  Bledman,Burns, Callender, Thompson  Trinidad & Tobago
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