World, you've just been Bolted. Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt left the field behind in the men's 100 meter final, shaving .03 seconds off his own world record. After making various tai chi and archery moves at the start line, the 6-5 Bolt used giant strides to end the race early. He pounded his chest while crossing the finish, then posed with his golden shoes for photographers.

It was only the 11th 100 meter dash he's ever competed in.

Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago finished second, a full .2 seconds behind -- Bolt tied the largest Olympic victory margin in this event since thousandths of seconds were measured (Carl Lewis, 1984). Thompson and bronze medalist Walter Dix (USA, 9.91) both ran personal bests. It was the first Olympic 100m in which six runners clocked times under 10 seconds.

Bolt's time was .01 second behind the wind-aided 9.68 (4.1 meters/sec) that American Tyson Gay ran at the U.S. track trials in Eugene, Oregon on June 30. Gay, clearly still under the effects of a leg injury sustained during those trials, failed to qualify for tonight's final. Bolt's 9.69 tied the 1996 run by Barbados' Obadele Thompson that was nullified with the benefit of a wind that was stronger than 5 m/sec. Tonight in Beijing, the wind meter read 0.00.

Jamaican Asafa Powell, the man from whom Bolt took the WFM title earlier this year, finished fifth with a 9.95 time.