Usain Bolt made Olympic history as he won the gold medal in the 200 meters on Thursday night.

Bolt ran 19.32 to finish ahead of fellow countrymen Yohan Blake and Wallace Weir to become the first man to win 100 and 200 meters titles in successive Olympics. Surely nobody can question his status as the greatest sprinter in history.

"It's what I came here to do. I'm now a legend," he said afterwards.

Bolt had complained of slipping on the blocks as he won the 100 meters on Sunday night, but he got a flying start in 200 meters, springing out of the blocks and running an excellent bend.

To his credit Blake, who ran 19.44, was still in contention as they came off the bend and for a moment it looked as if he could close. But Bolt is Bolt and he maintained a lead of just over a meter which he stretched out in the closing strides, looking across to Blake as if to say 'I am still number one.'

Blake finished 0.4 second ahead of Weir to highlight that at almost any other time he would be a great champion and maybe one day soon he will be, but for the moment Usain Bolt is the king of sprinting.

"I've got nothing left to prove. I've showed the world I'm the best and, right now, I just want to enjoy myself. This is my moment. I'll never forget this," said the undoubted star of these Games as he was the last.

Earlier in a magnificent night, Kenya's Lekuta Rudisha set the first new world record of the London Games when he won the 800 meters in 1.40.91.broke the 800 meters world record as he claimed the gold medal on Thursday night in the London Olympics

Rudisha went into the race after having run five of the 10 fastest times in history and made a statement of intent right from the start, running a split time off 49.28 to open up a lead that he never look like relinquishing.

The Kenyan powered out a five meters lead as the field strung out around the final bend as his rivals were quite unable to live with the pace.

"I am very happy. I've waited for this moment for a very long time. To come here and get a world record is unbelievable. I had no doubt about winning. Today the weather was beautiful - I decided to go for it (the world record)," he said, after completing a win that the Chairman of the London Olympic Games Organizing Committee, Sebastian Coe, one of the great middle distance runners himself, described as one of the greatest Olympic moments.

"Lord Coe is a good friend of mine. I came here in February and he took me around the Stadium. I wanted to come here and make him proud," said Rudisha.

18-year-old Nijel Amos finished second to take and a new world junior record, while Timothy Kitum ran a personal best of 1.42.73 to win bronze.

Such was the speed of the race that all but one of the runners set a new personal best with Mohammed Aman finishing sixth and still setting a new national record for Ethiopia.

Great Britain's Andrew Osagie finished last and still managed to knock 0.7 seconds of his best time and set the fastest losing time ever in an Olympic final.

There was almost shock in the men's triple jump final when reigning world champion Christian Taylor only just managed to make the final three jumps of the competition. Taylor produced two no-jumps, before leaping 17.15 to go through. His fourth jump of 12.81 was the longest in the world this year and took him into the lead and it would give him gold at the end of the competition.

"It's such a blessing to share this moment with my family. I'm so honored. I have to thank my coach. At the beginning I was a little anxious," he commented.

Will Claye earned silver with a consistent set of jumps, of which the longest was 17.62, while consistency was also the watchword for Italy's Fabrizio Donato who also produced a consistent series of which a jump of 17.48 won him bronze.

World record holder Barbora Spotakova lived up to her top billing with a throw of 69.55 meters to win gold in the women's javelin.

Spotakova's throw was over four meters longer than that of Germany's Christiana Obergfoll, who threw 65.16, while another German, Linda Stahl took bronze with 64.91

"I didn't even dare to think about it in this competition. I didn't realize it but it will come tomorrow. I said to myself this evening, I have got lots of experience and I am healthy and I am 100%. I believe in myself," said the Russian, whose only disappointment was that her event was the last of the day, starting after Bolt's heroics had ended.

"It was a really strange competition this evening. The stadium was half-empty but the atmosphere was great. And these Olympic Games are the biggest experience for athletes," she commentated.

Meanwhile American duo of Ashton Easton and Trey Hardee won gold and silver in the Decathlon with Cuba's Leonel Suarez finishing third.

"There's really not much I can say. I worked really hard for this, I just can't believe it. When I think about all the work I've put in. All the guys have put in a lot of work. I wonder why I deserved the gold because all these other guys worked so hard as well. It's like a family out there, all wanting to succeed," commented Easton.

The US quarter of Madison, Tarmoh, Knight and Williams ran the second fastest time of the year as they clocked 41.64 to win the first semi-final of the women's 4 X 100 meters. Trinidad and Tobago set a national record of 42.31, while Ukraine and Jamaica were also fast and will be in the mix for medals, although it is hard to focus much on times as both the US and Jamaica will almost totally overhaul their teams.

2009 world champion Castor Semenya ran an ominous season's best of 1.57.67 in her semi-final of the women's 800 meters. The South African was followed across the line by European champion, Elena Arzhakova.

The 2011 champion, Mariva Savinova responded with an assured run in her semi-final, timing her run to perfection to overtake Francine Niyonsaba, the African champion.

Pamela Jelimo won the first of the semi-finals in the women's 800 meters to qualify directly for the final along with Young Russian, Ekaterina Poistogova.

Related

• Bolt: I have nothing left to prove
• Unstoppable Bolt completes historic double
• Bolt and Blake assure another showdown in 200m final

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