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Bolt doubles down again

Matt ZuvelaAugust 9, 2012

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has defended his 200 meter Olympic title in Beijing, winning in a time of 19.32 seconds, short of both his world and Olympic records.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Usain Bolt of Jamaica crosses the finish line to win gold during the Men's 200m Final on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 9, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Olympia 2012 Usain Bolt Gold 200 MeterImage: Getty Images

Bolt's countrymen Yohan Blake and Warren Weir finished second and third as the sprint powerhouse locked out the 200-meter podium.

After Sunday's win in the 100, Bolt has become the first man to defend both his 100 and 200 Olympic titles.

Blake also took silver in the 100 meters.

In the 200, Bolt had sprinted to a solid lead before even coming out of the curve. Blake kept it close down the straight, but Bolt's lead was big enough that he was able to coast the last few strides across the finish line.

While his time was shy of his 19.19 world record set in 2009, athletics fans in London did get to see a record time in the men's 800.

Kenya's David Rudisha, appearing in his first Olympics, shaved a tenth of a second of his own world record time from 2010 to win in 1 minute 40.91 seconds and take gold.

Javelin jubilation

While Bolt and Rudisha were racing around the track, three German women were competing on the infield in the javelin competition.

Beijing bronze medalist Christina Obergfoll was tipped as a medal favorite before the London Olympics, and she did not disappoint. Her very first throw of 65.19 meters that proved to be her best, and it ended up being enough for silver.

Silver medalist Christina Obergfoell (L) and bronze medalist Linda Stahl of Germany celebrate after the Women's Javelin Throw final at the London 2012 Olympic Games Athletics, Track and Field events at the Olympic Stadium, London, Great Britain, 09 August 2012. Photo: Michael Kappeler dpa
It was a good day for Germany's javelin throwersImage: picture-alliance/dpa

Linda Stahl was an outsider for a medal, but a season's best throw of 64.91 in the fourth round was a pleasant surprise for the Olympic debutante when it won her the bronze medal.

Rounding out the German trio in the final, Kathrina Molitor finished sixth. Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic won gold.

In the decathlon, Americans Ashton Easton and Trey Hardee took gold and silver with 8,869 and 8,671 points, respectively. Cuba's Leonel Suarez took third.