Bolt wins Olympic 200m with world record, runner-up disqualified later

Source: Xinhua | 08-21-2008 07:18

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Usain Bolt of Jamaica eased to win the Olympic men's 200m sprint and rewrote the world record in 19.30 seconds, even into a headwind of 0.9m/s here on Wednesday night.

Usain Bolt (R) of Jamaica jubilates after the men's 200m final at  National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008  Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. Usain Bolt of Jamaica  won the title with 19.30 seconds and set a new world record.  Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

The 21-year-old Jamaican has become the most shinning star of the "Bird's Nest", who won the men's 100m dash four days ago, with the new world record of 9.69 seconds.

In tonight's 200m race, a dramatic story were written by Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles, who finished second, and Wallace Spearmon of the United States, who got the third. They were both disqualified for encroaching on neighboring lines.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates after the men's 200m final at  the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing  2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. Usain Bolt of  Jamaica won the title with 19.30 seconds and set a new world record.  (Xinhua/Jiao Weiping)

Spearmon was disqualified just after the sprint for encroaching on other line. However, he attributed his foul to Martina, saying that Martina stepped into his line first. After an investigation, both were disqualified.

Then the original fourth finisher American Shawn Crawford, who won the 200m gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics, became the silverist in 19.96 seconds and his teammate Walter Dix was subsequently offered the bronze in 19.98.

Editor:Wang Shuqin