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In a recent podcast, Gatlin has revealed what motivated him to defeat Bolt in London race after Bolt was seen as the favourite to win.
The men's 100 final at the London 2017 World Championships was one of the biggest races in the modern era, as it featured the biggest sprint rivals Justin Gatlin and Usain Bolt, running against each other for the last time.
Bolt was the reigning world champion and record holder, having dominated the sprint from 2009 to 2015, and won every 100m, 200m, and 4x100m gold medals on offer at the biennial meet, barring the 100m at the 2011 edition in South Korea where he was disqualified due to a false start.
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With London being Bolt's last outing as a professional athlete, all eyes were on him to witness if he'll win his fourth 100m title.
However, in a shocking turn of events after Bolt won his heat uncomfortably in 10.07s, he improved to 9.98s in the semifinal but was beaten by Christian Coleman by 0.01s, ending Bolt's four-year winning streak in the 100m.
The final saw Gatlin become the surprise world champion in 9.92s ahead of Coleman in 9.94s, and Bolt won the bronze medal in 9.95.
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In a recent podcast, Gatlin revealed what triggered him to defeat Bolt in that race after Bolt was seen as the favourite to win.
"As we get to the finals, lane 3 was like Usain...the stadium just erupted with cheers, it was deafening. And it got to lane 8, where I was, it was deafening with boos. The loudest boo you've ever heard in your life. But for whatever reason, it made me dial in. It made me focus, it made me say alright m**********rs, ima show you all who I am," he said.
After Gatlin won the race, he went to meet Bolt, bowed down and paid homage to the legend.
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09:30 - 30.04.2023
ATHLETICS Why Letsile Tebogo might just be the next Usain Bolt
Bolt is the 100m world record holder, while Tebogo is the world under-20 100m record holder, and he might just take over the 100m.
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