His rivals were calling the gangling 6 ft 5 ins runner a freak of nature and bloggers nicknamed him "Insane Usain."
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Some sporting commentators welcomed Bolt's natural showmanship as he hammed it up for the cameras, saying he was just what was needed to put the glamour back into athletics.
The men's 100 meters, the Olympics showcase event, has been plagued by doping scandals since Ben Johnson's fall from grace 20 years ago.
Federer takes doubles gold
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