Usain Bolt won gold in the men's 100 metres to retain his title at the London 2012 Olympics.

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Bolt crosses the line

Jamaican Bolt ran the distance comfortably in 9.63 seconds to quell the doubters who had suggested his "95%" fitness would impede him.

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The fastest man in the world

The Olympic Stadium fell into silence as they anticipated the blue ribbon event, and Bolt didn't disappoint as he finished five-hundredths of a second behind the world record.

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Gatlin (right) came third

Yohan Blake, Bolt's compatriot, finished second (9.75) while American Justin Gatlin finished third with 9.79 seconds.

Bolt, 25, has now won four Olympic gold medals, following his 100, 200m and 4x100m relay success at the 2008 Beijing Games.

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A familiar sight returned

Regarded as the strongest field in 100m Olympics history, Blake ran a personal best but was still no match for the fastest man in the world.

Asked by the BBC what he had to say the doubters, Bolt replied: "I just said it on the track."

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  • Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning gold in the Mens 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

  • Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning gold in the Mens 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

  • Usain Bolt of Jamaica crosses the finish line ahead of Ryan Bailey of the United States, Yohan Blake of Jamaica and Justin Gatlin of the United States to win the Men's 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

  • Usain Bolt of Jamaica crosses the finish line ahead of Ryan Bailey of the United States, Yohan Blake of Jamaica and Justin Gatlin of the United States to win the Men's 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

  • Usain Bolt of Jamaica runs ahead of Ryan Bailey of the United States, Yohan Blake of Jamaica and Justin Gatlin of the United States during the Men's 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

  • Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning gold in the Mens 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

  • Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal in the Men's 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt, right, is congratulated by his mother Jennifer, left, and others after he won gold in the men's 100-meter final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt, center, is congratulated after he won gold in the men's 100-meter final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 100-meter final during the athletics competition in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt, right, leads United States' Ryan Bailey in the men's 100-meter final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt, left, and compatriot Yohan Blake hold their national flag and celebrate after winning the gold and silver medals respectively during the athletics competition in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Blake won the silver and Gatlin the bronze. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt, left, and compatriot Yohan Blake hold their national flag and celebrate after winning the gold and silver medals respectively during the athletics competition in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. Blake won the silver and Gatlin the bronze. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt, center, crosses the finish line ahead of Netherlands' Churandy Martina, left, United State's Ryan Bailey, second left, United States' Justin Gatlin, third right, Jamaica's Yohan Blake, second right, and United States' Tyson Gay in the men's 100-meters final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt, left, celebrates winning gold in the men's 100-meter final alongside silver medallist Yohan Blake of Jamaica during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt runs past the Olympic flame after winning the men's 100-meter final race during the athletics competition in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

For a Games that has emphasises the importance of passing on the mantle to a new generation, Bolt has no interest in relinquishing his status as one of the most exciting athletes in modern history.

The sprinter will only be 29 when the 2016 Games are held in Rio.

10 things you didn't know about Usain Bolt


Peter Serafinowicz
USAIN IN THE MEMBRANE


Nick O'Malley
It took me longer to type this out than it did for Usain Bolt to win the 100m final


Rio Ferdinand
Wow, Usain Bolt....out of this world type athlete! the 100metres final is the best sport to watch in the Olympics....


Jeeves Williams
It’d be faster for Usain Bolt to run to Google, ask them my question, and run back than for me to rely on my Internet connection.


Piers Morgan
Greatest athlete in the history of Planet Earth -