Usain Bolt turned back the clock to defend his title.Bolt posted an Olympic record 9.63 to become the first man since Carl Lewis to win two straight Olympic 100-meter titles. It was a fast final all around, the fastest times ever by recorded by third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishers, according to the Olympic Stadium announcer. But Bolt's speed was shocking, and in a much different way than his breathtaking 2008 victory. He had to work for this title, passing bronze medalist Justin Gatlin at 50 meters and going hard through the finish to ensure victory by .12 over Yohan Blake. Since Beijing, Bolt had run better than 9.76 (legal) once -- his 9.58 world record at the 2009 world championships. He'd dealt with injuries, starting and false-starting problems and a loss of his invincibility. Some thought he'd never go sub-9.7 again. Maybe it was the Olympic stage that spurred the Jamaican, or maybe it was the competition. Many tabbed training partner Blake the man to beat in this final, especially after Blake beat Bolt in the Jamaican trials. Blake equaled his personal best in but wasn't in Bolt's class. 2004 Olympic champion Gatlin, back from a four-year doping ban, ran a personal-best 9.79 (Gatlin had run a 9.77 in 2006, but that was wiped out with the ban) for third. Tyson Gay, in, remarkably, his first career Olympic final, just missed the medals with a 9.80. In any other Olympics, Gay would have medaled with that time. Nearly from top to bottom, this was the fastest Olympic final ever. 
I say nearly because Asafa Powell slowed to an 11.99 for last place, continuing his string of forgettable Olympic sprints. The other seven men went under 10 seconds. Powell's all but done as a major-championship contender, but Bolt, 25, showed he's not slowing down yet. Look for him to repeat again in the 200 meters, where he's a clearer favorite over Blake. We'll see them back on the track in heats Tuesday.
