Gold: Jamaica
Silver: Japan
Bronze: United States
Nobody will ever be able to claim that they defeated Usain Bolt in an Olympic final.
Racing in the final Olympic race of his decorated career, Bolt ran the anchor leg to lead Jamaica to the 4x100m gold medal Friday night in Rio.
The world’s fastest man is now a perfect nine-for-nine in Olympic finals. He owns the most career Olympic track and field gold medals, along with Finland’s Paavo Nurmi and Carl Lewis of the United States.
It was the third consecutive Olympic 4x100m gold medal for Jamaica. The country never won an Olympic gold medal in the event prior to Bolt.
Asafa Powell ran the first leg for Jamaica, followed by Yohan Blake. Nickel Ashmeade handed the baton to Bolt, who crossed the finish line in 37.27 seconds. The Jamaicans won the 2012 Olympic gold medal in 36.84 seconds, a world-record time.
Japan finished in 37.60 seconds to claim the silver medal.
The United States won the bronze medal. The U.S. team featured, in order, Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Trayvon Bromell.
Earlier in Rio, Bolt won gold medals in the 100m and the 200m.
He became the first man to win three consecutive Olympic 100m gold medals on Sunday. He defeated his longtime rival, Justin Gatlin of the United States.
Then Thursday night he earned his third consecutive Olympic 200m gold medal. He won by a comfortable .24 seconds, but after the race he expressed frustration with his time, 19.78 seconds.