Gatlin

Bolt

Start

For other runners to create as much force, they would have to stay on the ground longer, but that would slow them down.

Approx. time: 1.10s

Finish line

The problem for Justin Gatlin, the silver medalist, in Lane 4, was that he needed to build a larger cushion in the early part of the race to stave off the onslaught that Bolt inevitably unleashes.

9.80s

1.18s

Bolt owns this part of the race for a simple reason: He creates more force into the ground in less time than anyone else.

Bolt usually gets to full speed (about 12 meters a second) at the 60-meter mark. By then, Gatlin’s lead had evaporated.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica became the first runner to win the 100 meters at three Olympics. Bolt was slow out of the blocks, as is often the case. His reaction time of 0.155 of a second on Sunday was slower than all but one of his seven competitor’s.

2.17s

8.76s

Gatlin

Bolt hits his top-end speed between 60 and 80 meters, and there was little Gatlin could do at this point except avoid dropping to third. With Bolt in the lead here, the race was over.

Bolt

3.29s

Gatlin

Bolt

To beat Bolt, you have to create an insurmountable gap in the first 10 meters. His reaction time is often slow, as it was in London and again on Sunday night.

4.34s

7.66s

7.58s

4.42s

5.41s