Photos: Usain Bolt makes history as Jamaican wins third consecutive Olympic 100m gold medal at Rio 2016

He has not lost an Olympic race since 2008. 

Usain Bolt's dream of claiming an unprecedented ‘triple-triple’ of sprint titles in Rio was still alive after he stormed to 100 metres victory in 9.81 seconds on Sunday night, beating America’s Justin Gatlin into second.

In a repeat of the result at last year’s World Championships Bolt got a predictably terrible start but came from behind to overhaul drugs cheat Gatlin, who clocked 9.89, in the dying metres. Canada’s Andre de Grasse clinched the bronze medal in a personal best 9.91. 

Usain Bolt proved too fast for his rivals once again as the Jamaican won gold in the 100m 

Bolt entered the arena with his arms outstretched like the saviour of the sport many believe him to be and raised his finger to his mouth to silence the crowd at the start.  

Bolt has a smile on his face as he celebrates yet another triumph 

Bolt poses with heptathletes, Thiam and Hill

Bolt creates his trademark 'lightning bolt' pose for the cameras as he celebrates yet another Olympic success

Bolt receives the adulation of his fans 

Bolt is congratulated by the Rio Olympics mascot Vinicius 

Bolt holds his gold soled running shoes after winning Sunday night's race 

Bolt is congratulated by Great Britain's heptathlete Ennis 

 Gatlin claims he does not hear boos but he would have done well to ignore the chorus of them as his name was read out by the stadium announcer. 

Nevertheless he breezed into the final, easing down to victory in 9.95, disappearing down the tunnel afterwards faster than you can say ‘drugs cheat’.

Britain’s two fastest men this year — Richard Kilty and Joel Fearon —did not make the Olympic team, their best times recorded after the selection cut-off point. In their absence, CJ Ujah, drawn in the same heat as Bolt, had a fiendishly difficult task. 

He ran a creditable 10.01 to finish fourth but missed out on a place in the final by the thickness of his vest to America’s Trayvon Brommel. Britain’s other representative in the semi-final, James Dasaolu also crashed out, finishing sixth in 10.16.