Usain Bolt tonight secured the legendary status he craved by becoming the first man ever to win the Olympic Games sprint double twice in succession.
Usain Bolt celebrates in his trademark style after winning the men's 200m final at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photograph: Rex Features
After proclaiming that retaining his 100m and 200m Olympic titles had made him a "living legend", Usain Bolt took aim at Carl Lewis for casting aspersions on the manner in which he had done so.
Lewis has hinted in the past that the drug testing programme in Jamacia is less rigorous than in other countries, but Bolt said Lewis was attention seeking. "Carl Lewis, I have no respect for him. The things he says about other track athletes is really downgrading other athletes," said Bolt after retaining his Olympic 200m title. "I think he is looking for attention because no one really talks much about him. I've lost all respect for him. It's really upsetting for me."
In 2008, Lewis said: "No one is accusing anyone. But don't live by a different rule and expect the same kind of respect. No country has had that kind of dominance. I'm not saying they've done anything for certain. I don't know."
Earlier, Bolt had said the dominance of Jamica was the result of hard work and training: "When people doubt us it's really hard, but we try our best to show the world we're running clean." The Jamaican said that he would carry on running but that he would probably retire before he reached 30.
On defending his titles at the next Games in Rio, he said that he thought the competition from Yohan Blake and others would be too much: "I think I've had my time. In life, anything is possible but that's going to be a hard reach." After successfully defending his Olympic 100m and 200m titles, Bolt said that he had proved he was "the greatest athlete to live". Bolt, who won the 200m in 19.32 seconds to lead a clean sweep in front of his Jamaican compatriots Yohan Blake and Warren Weir, said the achievement put him in the same category as his hero Michael Johnson.
"It's what I came here to do. I'm now a legend, I'm also the greatest athlete to live. I am in the same category as Michael Johnson," he said after finishing in the same time as Johnson's former world record. Bolt said that he felt inhibited by a back injury that has troubled him this season - yet still appeared to have something to spare as he crossed the line.
"The 200m was harder than I expected. I could feel the pressure coming off the bend and that's when I had to focus."
Weir revealed that before the race, Bolt had come up to him and said "one, two, three" and the trio completed a lap of honour that turned into an entertaining sideshow for the 80,000 present.
"It's wonderful.
Jamica has proven that we are the greatest sprint country. 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," said Bolt. "This is my moment. I'll never forget this. Lane seven has been good to me these past couple of days."
Before the start of the race, Bolt had joked and bumped fists with the volunteer holding his kit. After storming to victory, he did press ups on the track and borrowed a photographer's camera to take pictures of his friend and training partner Blake.
Bolt didn't have it all his own way in terms of era defining performances as Kenyan 800m runner David Rudisha became the first person to break a world record on the Olympic Stadium track.
Asked afterwards whether he fancied splitting the difference and taking on Bolt over 400m, he said: "It would be great fun, let's do it."
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