Athletics fans and the those from the wider world of sport were united in relief after Usain Bolt defied the odds to defeat Justin Gatlin and win the world 100metres title for the third time.
The charismatic Jamaican was the underdog after failing to show his best form this season, while Gatlin, widely unpopular due to his doping past, remained undefeated.
The feeling that Bolt was up against it only intensified after he stumbled out of the blocks in his semi-final, only just coming back to qualify, while Gatlin progressed serenely, equalling his fastest time in the world this year with 9.77seconds.
But when it came to the crunch, the 33-year-old American failed to deliver, with Bolt coming through to pip him to the gold medal in a time of 9.79, just one hundreth of a second in front.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVz4s6OJcBc
And those in the world of athletics were quick to hail Bolt’s victory as a major triumph for the sport in the face of recent doping allegations and, in particular, Gatlin’s own past indiscretions.
What a line from Steve Cram. "He's saved his title. Saved his reputation. And possibly saved his sport." #Beijing2015 #Bolt ⚡️
— Alex Stone (@AlexStone7) August 23, 2015
That's why he is the best puts in the performance wen it needs Bolt ⚡️⚡️ world champion
— Jason Quigley (@jay_quigley) August 23, 2015
I really hope Bolt is clean. #WorldChampionships @BBCSport #lifetimebans
— Kenneth Egan OLY (@kenegan30) August 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/Pendred/status/635441943263211521
Wow!!! That's why he's the best, when he needs to perform, he pulls it out of the bag!!!! #BOLT #Beijing2015 #100m
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 23, 2015
Beyond happy Gatlin didn't win!! #bolt
— Rob Kearney (@KearneyRob) August 23, 2015
Take that, bad guys. Sensational.
— Paul Kelso (@pkelso) August 23, 2015
ATHLETICS WINS! Bolt wins the 100m at #Beijing2015
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) August 23, 2015
The moment Bolt crosses the line to win the 100m. Amazing feeling inside the Bird's Nest pic.twitter.com/9eIT1eAqgC
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) August 23, 2015
One hundredth of a second between Bolt and Gatlin, a gulf in charisma and class
— Tom Fordyce (@tomfordyce) August 23, 2015
What a race! What a man! Congratulations @usainbolt
See you in Oslo next summer@BislettGames— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) August 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/Sonjamclaughlan/status/635443064157245441
#bolt nothing else I can say #100mFinal pic.twitter.com/CB0jwbOHT4
— Kelly Sotherton MBE (@KellySotherton) August 23, 2015
