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Usain Bolt blazes to gold in the 200, his final individual event in Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO — Usain Bolt did it again, of course he did. There was no world record, the damp, cool, Olympic Stadium track took that out of the equation.

<p>Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates after he won the Men's 200m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. / AFP / Adrian DENNIS </p>

RIO DE JANEIRO — Usain Bolt did it again, of course he did. There was no world record, the damp, cool, Olympic Stadium track took that out of the equation.

But in his last individual Olympic race Bolt grabbed his eighth gold medal and his third in a row in his beloved 200 meters. More than anything, he did it in his own inimitable style.

There was the laughter, the showmanship, the exhilarated, joyous, infectious celebrations. And there was the raw speed, the kind of natural yet finely honed pace that no human in history has ever matched.

The Jamaican sprint king blitzed the field with a lightning start, a seamless turn and a powering finish to come home in 19.78, ahead of Canada’s Andre De Grasse and surprise bronze medalist Christophe Lemaitre of France.

In reality, the result was beyond doubt once the first 50 meters had been swallowed up by Bolt’s giant strides. Perfect preparation led to a comfortable triumph. Businesslike is the last word you should ever use to describe him, he is far too interesting for that. But there is a routine that he knows and loves and is accustomed to. Why change it, when it has brought so much success?

Around 40 minutes before liftoff he was out on the warm-up track, about the only time he is ever poker faced, practicing his turns under the guiding eye of trainer Glen Mills.

Then, in the tunnel, the jocular Bolt returning, laughing, gently teasing, and wishing his rivals good luck. In reality, luck had nothing to do with it.

The world has never seen a greater exponent of sprinting dominance and it showed, right from the first stride through to the moment when he broke the imaginary tape.

Moments later he let out a guttural scream. Soon after, he pointed to his chest and mouthed “No. 1.” Then he was taking selfies with Jamaican fans. Then, finally, his signature Lightning Bolt pose. The crowd lapped it all up.

Barring some kind of baton-dropping mishap in the relay Bolt will end his Olympic career with nine gold medals, essentially perfection, if you discount his elimination in the 2004 200 meters heats as a raw and injured 17-year-old.

It has been perfect, all of it, perfectly poised, perfectly entertaining, and on this night capped, as always, with a perfect smile.

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