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Rio 2016: Of the 30 fastest 100m times ever, only nine were achieved by a clean athlete - and all were run by Usain Bolt

In light of Bolt's achievements, we take a look at his best moments on the track

 

Samuel Lovett
Tuesday 16 August 2016 19:57 BST
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Usain Bolt reaffirmed his status as the fastest man on earth last Sunday night as he raced his way into the history books – taking precisely 9.81 seconds to do so.

Bolt now stands on the verge of a historic triple triple (yes, you read that right). Having already won the 100m, the 200m and the 4x100m relay at both Beijing and London, the Jamaican is looking to recreate the feat for a third, and probably final, time in Rio.

What makes Bolt’s achievements more significant is his 'clean speed'. Of the 30 fastest 100m times ever, nine – including the top three – have been run by Bolt. Incredible as it seems, the other 21 were run by athletes who have tested positive at some point in their careers for doping.

While the Jamaican turned to chicken nuggets, some of Bolt’s greatest rivals turned to drugs instead. Indeed, Bolt’s main challenge in Sunday night came from America’s Justin Gatlin – the disgraced New York sprinter who tested positive for testosterone in April 2006.

Similarly, fellow compatriot Astafa Powell – another of Bolt’s main rivals in years gone by – tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrine in 2013 and subsequently withdrew from the World Athletics Championships in the same year.

Bolt has provided a breath of fresh air to athletics - a shining light for a sport battered and bruised by one doping scandal after another.

In light of such achievements, we take a look at his best moments on the track.

See the gallery above for Usain Bolt's best moments.

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