Bolt Sets New 100m World Record in Olympics

Jamaican Usain Bolt left his rivals trailing to win gold in the Olympic 100m final with a new world record.

Bolt was well clear at 60m and although he eased down and started to celebrate 15 metres from the line, he still set a new mark of 9.69 seconds.

Richard Thompson of Trindad and Tobago was second while American Walter Dix came third but they were well adrift.

Bolt who becomes Jamaica's first men's 100 Olympic champion insisted his decision to celebrate even before crossing the line was not designed to be respectful.

Ealier this year, Bolt set a new record of 9.72 seconds to take the record away from Asafa Powell and the 21 year old had looked in imperious form on his way to the final.

Bolt will now try to become the first man to complete the 100m - 200m double since Carl Lewis at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

Meanwhile in swimming superstar Michael Phelps matched Mark Spitz's 1972 Munich Games record of seven gold medals by winning a thrilling 100m butter-fly final.

Phelps, 23 was seventh at the turn but stormed back to edge out Serbia's Milord Cavic by just one hundreth of a second in a time of 50.58 seconds.
Serbia lodged a complaint against the results but the American's win was subsequently confirmed by officials. Phelps is seeking a record eighth gold medal in tomorrow's 4 by 100m medley final.

He had already won the 400m medley, 200m free-style, 200m butter-fly, 4 by 100 metre free relay, 4 by 200m free relay and 200m medley, all in world record time.

Looking at the Beijing Olympic medal tally...China still leads with 27 gold, 13 silver and 6 bronze. USA at second spot with 16 gold, 16 silver and 22 bronze.

Germany is third place with 8 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze.