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Justin Gatlin may have won gold but bends the knee to Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt's eternal title as the people's champion is strengthened despite defeat to Justin Gatlin at London 2017

14:24 · MON August 07, 2017

There's a positive message to be found amidst all the depression surrounding Usain Bolt's defeat to former drugs cheat Justin Gatlin in his 100m farewell at London 2017, writes our Chris Hammer.

Are we all at the acceptance stage of grief yet?

Denial may only have lasted a few seconds but there was certainly no shortage of shared anger and depression around the world on Saturday night after Usain Bolt's solo sprint career ended with what we all felt was the worst possible scenario for athletics - and sport as a whole.

The pantomime villain in Bolt's almost perfectly flawless career somehow defied odds of 20/1, the scriptwriters, an unprecedented chorus of boos, his age of 35 and the mental blocks from years of being second best to ruin what was meant to be a night of celebration.

It was a fear all athletics fans have endured every time Bolt lined up in a final ever since Justin Gatlin's second return from doping offences in 2010. However, on every occasion until now the world's greatest ever athlete kept "saving the sport" by adding more gold to his unrivalled legend.

More importantly, the six of his 19 career global golds achieved when up against Gatlin in individual or relay events symbolically served as the brightest beacon of light in the ongoing battle against drugs in athletics.

Indeed, many have expressed grave concerns about the future of the sport without these captivating flashes of Bolt's lightning guiding the way.

Those of us still festering in the misery of Saturday night will therefore suggest the result is a perversely poetic sign.

Gatlin predictably received his gold medal amidst more boos but really it's the system at fault which allows a former two-time cheat to continue his career at the highest level well into his 30s.

The American has somewhat unfairly been sprinting with all the weight of everything that's wrong with athletics dumped on his shoulders over the past few years. While I'm not suggesting for one moment to get the violins out, I think we need to assess where to direct our anger.

That is of course if you believe in life bans for cheats. If not, then what do you expect someone like Gatlin to try and do once he's back on the start line?

We all know sport brings agony and ecstasy in equal measure (and that's being optimistic) - which is why it's even more astonishing that one athlete alone has been able to give so much joy and inspiration to billions across the globe for so many years.

Relay gold next Saturday will provide a small measure of tonic to the current mood, but what message does this deflating ending in Bolt's solo career send out, with the 'bad guy' ending it on top the podium in front of the world's judgemental glare?

Well, what is victory if it's not met with widespread respect and adulation?

Moreover, what is defeat when it's still greeted with a rousing ovation and defiant celebration?

Usain's farewell 'Lightning Bolt' pose may not have been one to mark his last 100m crown but was instead a symbol of his eternal title as the people's champion.

He's earned that highest of all honours from years of class, success, showmanship and, ultimately, keeping clean.

If this isn't the greatest lesson that future generations can learn then I don't know what is.

Usain Bolt won a bronze in his final 100m race

Usain Bolt's major medals

All gold unless stated

World Championships

London 2017 - 100m bronze

Beijing 2015 - 100m, 200m & 4x100m

Moscow 2013 - 100m, 200m & 4x100m

Daegu 2011 - 200m & 4x100m

Berlin 2009 - 100m, 200m & 4x100m

Osaka 2007 - 200m silver, 4x100m silver

Olympic Games

Rio 2016 - 100m, 200m & 4x100m

London 2012 - 100m, 200m & 4x100m

Beijing 2008 - 100m & 200m

When and for how long was Gatlin banned?

Gatlin was first banned in 2001 for two years for traces of an amphetamine contained in medication he had been taking since he was young for attention deficit disorder. The ban was later reduced to one year and he returned to win the 100m title at the 2004 Olympics and also claimed the 100m and 200m world titles in 2005.

Gatlin also served a four-year ban from 2006 - reduced from eight after he co-operated with US authorities over doping - for testing positive for testosterone. Again he denied doping, insisting the positive result came from a therapist rubbing testosterone cream on him - a claim the therapist has refuted.

Usain Bolt in numbers

9.58 - Bolt's 100m world record (in seconds), set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

19.19 - his 200m record (secs) from the same Championships.

36.84 secs - he holds a complete set of sprint world records after Jamaica's relay efforts at the London 2012 Olympics.

27.79 - Bolt's fastest recorded speed (mph) on the track. It was measured from his time of 1.61 seconds for the 60-to-80m split in his record 100m run in Berlin.

8 - Olympic gold medals on Bolt's record. He lost another from the 4x100m relay at Beijing 2008 when team-mate Nesta Carter failed a retrospective drugs test.

7.1million - followers on Instagram.

11 - world titles.

4 - times Bolt has been named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

6 - he has been named IAAF Male Athlete of the Year half a dozen times.

41 - strides typically needed for Bolt to cover 100m.

45 - number of races in his winning run, stretching back to 2013, which was ended in the semi-final in London by eventual silver-medallist Christian Coleman.

3 - Bolt's finishing position in his final race.