Usain Bolt finished third at the World Championships 2017 100m final. Justin Gatlin came first.
Gatlin had a long and controversial career. The 35 year old was banned twice for doping. He was the Olympic 100m champion in 2004 and double world champion in 2005. He had been booed every time he went to his blocks in these championships, because of his doping past.
He tested positive for testosterone in 2006 a second time. He avoided a life ban after cooperating with authorities and instead opted for an 8 year suspension that was reduced to four when he appealed.
At the World Championships 2017, Bolt was the favourite to secure his 20th global gold, despite struggling with fitness and form in his valedictory season. But he failed to provide the perfect ending to a perfect career.
Instead the almost cartoonish super villain, Gatlin, got his revenge. Back in 2015, Bolt beat Gatlin in Beijing. Gatlin was coming off a 28 race win. And tonight, when he beat Bolt he put a furious finger to lips as his win stunned the capacity crowd to initial silence. But the crowd fought back chasing, “Usain Bolt! Usain Bolt!”
What did you think of Justin Gatlin beating Usain Bolt at the World Champions 2017 100m final? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe!
