Lightning Bolt scorches in 100m

By Nick Mulvenney

BEIJING (Reuters) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt scorched to Olympic 100 metres gold in a world record time on Saturday, thumping his chest in celebration as he clocked 9.69 seconds.

The 21-year-old claimed his country's first Olympic title in the blue riband event and capped an astonishing rise to the top of his sport. His former world record was 9.72 seconds.

Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago took the silver in 9.89 and American Walter Dix the bronze in 9.91.

"I wasn't really worried about racing fast," Bolt told reporters. "My only aim was to be a champion.

"I am just focusing on the 200 metres now. I came here prepared and I'm going to do it."

It was the first time the men's 100 metres world record had been broken in the Olympic final since Canadian Donovan Bailey in 1996.

Bolt's time would have been even better if he had not looked around and pumped his arms with victory assured 20 metres from the line.

Jamaican Asafa Powell, whose world mark Bolt bettered in May, once again failed to deliver on the big stage and finished fifth.