Bolt ready for second Rio gold after claiming historic third in 100m
Jamaica's Usain Bolt has set his eyes on his second ‘treble’ in the 200m at the Rio Games after claiming the first of his planned triple treble.
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A day after winning the 100m gold,Bolt now focuses his attention on the qualifying round for the men's 200 and then the 4x100m relay beginning on Friday.
Bolt ran 9.81secs to become the first athlete to win three Olympic 100m titles by beating American Justin Gatlin, who won the silver.
Though it was not his fastest, Bolt, 29, replicated his success at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
"Somebody said I can become immortal. Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal," said Bolt.
De Grasse took bronze in a personal best of 9.91, ahead of Bolt's Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake.
Bolt remains on target to leave Rio with a third successive Olympic treble, having won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles in 2008 and 2012.
Bolt was slower out of the blocks than 34-year-old Gatlin, who was aiming to regain the title he won at Athens 2004.
But the Jamaican surged through from 60 metres to pass Gatlin and comfortably win his seventh Olympic gold.
Bolt received a hero's reception as he walked out into Rio's Olympic Stadium before the race - and the crowd chanted his name after his victory, too
"It wasn't about the time, it was just about winning the gold and going out on top," said Michael Johnson, four-time Olympic champion. — PAS