Usain Bolt wins the men's Olympics 100m final - in pictures

The men's 100m final featured the fastest field of sprinters ever assembled. The qualifiers were Richard Thompson (Trinidad and Tobago), Asafa Powell (Jamaica), Tyson Gay (USA), Yohan Blake (Jamaica), Justin Gatlin (USA), Usain Bolt (Jamaica), Ryan Bailey (USA) and Churandy Martina (Netherlands) Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian Photograph: David Levene Bolt was ever the showman on the start-line, but when the race began he produced a slow, jerking start from the block. He later admitted that he was fearful of false-starting like he did at the world championships in 2011 Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian Justin Gatlin's early advantage was overhauled by the half-way mark as Bolt's superior stride length began to pay Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian With 20 metres to go, Asafa powell pulled up injured. The rest of the field were tightly bunched Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian Photograph: David Levene The main concern for the Jamaican over the closing stages was his compatriot and training partner Yohan Blake, in lane five. Blake, too, was coming through the field at just the right time Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian So concerned was the reigning Olympic champion that he even dipped as he crossed the line Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins/NOPP Bolt crossed the line in 9.64 seconds (later rounded down to 9.63), beating Blake by a metre and setting a new Olympic record Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins/NOPP His victory was the second fastest 100m time ever - and was five tenths faster than his gold medal winning canter in Beijing four years previous Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins/NOPP The victory lap was predictably colourful with Bolt performing for the crowd Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins / NOPP His trademark pose was repeated around the stadium Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian While team-mate Blake was also in on the celebrations after claiming silver. The final standing were 1st Bolt 9.63, 2nd Blake 9.75 (a personal best), 3rd Gatlin 9.79 (a personal best), 4th Gay 9.80, 5th Bailey 9.88 (a personal best), 6th Churandy 9.94 and 7th Thompson 9.98. Powell crossed the line 8th in 11.99 after injuring himself, ending hopes that this would be the first men's 100m race in which all of the competitors broke the 10 seconds mark Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian For Bolt and Blake, who delivered a thrilling race, the medal ceremony now awaits Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian Photograph: David Levene