Usain Bolt: Call Me Living Legend

"I'm a living legend," Usain Bolt said, after becoming the first man to successfully defend both 100m and 200m titles. Photo by BBC

Usain Bolt declared himself "the greatest athlete" to have lived after sealing an Olympic sprint double.

"I'm a living legend," he said, after becoming the first man to successfully defend both 100m and 200m titles.

He continued: "Now I am going to sit back, relax and think about what's next. I don't know what I really want to do after this, whether to run the 100 or 200 or try something else. I need to find a (new) goal that's going to motivate me to great things.

"But I am not ready to retire. I love this sport. The rest of the season I am just going to have fun because I did what I came here to do."

Bolt had lost to Blake over 100 and 200m at the Jamaican trials - and later underwent treatment on a stiff back which was causing hamstring problems - but gained sweet revenge over both distances in London, even having the time to raise a finger to his lips as he crossed the line.

That was jokingly directed at training partner Blake, who had made the same gesture at the trials, and Bolt - who came up with his version of a 'Royal wave' before the race - added: "A lot of people were doubting me but that's good because now you know who your true friends are who are going to support you through everything.

"This is what I wanted and I got it. We've been working hard all season. We pushed ourselves, we pushed each other and we're happy."

Asked about lowering the world record he set when winning the world title in Berlin in 2009, Bolt added: "I think it was possible but I guess I wasn't fit enough. I was fast but I wasn't fit enough.

"I came off the corner, I could feel the strain on my back a little bit so I was trying to keep my form, but I stopped running because I knew it wasn't going to be a world record. I really wanted to do it in the 200m but I'm happy. I came here and I gave it my all and I'm proud of myself."

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