Gatlin breaks World 100m record in Doha (© AFP / Getty Images)
World and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin broke the 100 metres World record** with a time of 9.76 (wind +1.7m/s - revised) at an IAAF World Athletics Tour Super Grand Prix meeting tonight.
The 24-year-old American beat the previous mark of 9.77 set by Jamaica's Asafa Powell in Athens in June last year, to finish ahead of Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba (9.84), a new African record, and fellow American Shawn Crawford (10.08), the Olympic 200 metres champion.
"I am the best of the best because I am the Olympic champion, the World champion and the World record holder now," said Gatlin. "I thought I would do it and I kept my word. I am a man who likes challenges and my acceleration today was phenomenal."
Both Gatlin and Powell had recorded 9.95 last weekend respectively in Osaka and Kingston, the fastest in 2006 before this evening. That world lead was first improved by Gatlin in the first of two heats tonight where he recorded 9.85 seconds, equalling his personal best.
"The timings could be further improved this year, probably in Europe," said Gatlin, who dedicated his 9.76 record to God and his parents.
Fasuba, 21, in second place also smashed his personal best (10.09 - 2004). The 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist improved to 9.92 in the first heat (behind Gatlin's 9.85), before dashing to 9.84 in the final.
Agencies
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**subject to usual ratification process
