Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt looks back at his Olympic competitors
Photographer: Kai Pfaffenbach
Date: August 16, 2008
Location: National Stadium (Bird's Nest), Beijing, China
Kai Pfaffenbach of Reuters photographed Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt glancing back over his left shoulder at his competitors while in the process of winning the 100-meter final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 16, 2008, at the National Stadium (the 'Bird's Nest'). Bolt set a world record of 9.69 seconds despite visibly slowing and celebrating before the finish line — leading experts to estimate he could have run as fast as 9.55 seconds had he maintained full speed. Bolt's grinning, expansive gesture while his competitors strained behind him became one of the most celebrated sports images of the decade. Bolt went on to win three gold medals at Beijing and swept all three sprinting events at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics, claiming 8 Olympic gold medals total.
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