2017 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres
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The men's
100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been conteste ...
at the
2017 World Championships in Athletics Seventeen or 17 may refer to: * 17 (number), the natural number following 16 and preceding 18 * one of the years 17 BC, AD 17, 1917, 2017 Literature Magazines * ''Seventeen'' (American magazine), an American magazine * ''Seventeen'' (Japane ...
was held at the London
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on . This meet was announced as the last competition for
Usain Bolt Usain St. Leo Bolt, , (; born 21 August 1986) is a retired Jamaican sprinter, widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. He is the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay. An eight- ...
. The race was won by
Justin Gatlin Justin Alexander Gatlin (born February 10, 1982) is a retired American sprinter who competed in the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters. He is the 2004 Olympic Champion in the 100 meters, the 2005 and 2017 World Champion in the 100 meters, ...
of the United States, ahead of Gatlin's team-mate
Christian Coleman Christian Coleman (born March 6, 1996) is an American professional track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He is the former world champion in the 100 meters. He was a double gold medallist at the World Champions ...
, with
Usain Bolt Usain St. Leo Bolt, , (; born 21 August 1986) is a retired Jamaican sprinter, widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. He is the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay. An eight- ...
finishing third.


Background

Billed as his last individual race, world record holder and reigning world and Olympic champion
Usain Bolt Usain St. Leo Bolt, , (; born 21 August 1986) is a retired Jamaican sprinter, widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. He is the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay. An eight- ...
hoped to bow out of individual competition with one last gold medal. He originally planned to retire after the Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro the previous year, but decided to return due to his love for the
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
crowds. However, his season was hampered by his reoccurring hamstring injuries, as well as the death of his friend
Germaine Mason Germaine Mason (20 January 1983 – 20 April 2017) was a Jamaican-born track and field athlete competing in high jump. In 2006, he switched sporting allegiance, and then represented Great Britain. As a Great Britain competitor, he won the Silv ...
. Coming into the championships, Bolt was only ranked 7th with 9.95 seconds. Meanwhile, young American
Christian Coleman Christian Coleman (born March 6, 1996) is an American professional track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He is the former world champion in the 100 meters. He was a double gold medallist at the World Champions ...
burst onto the athletics scene as the new favorite to dethrone Bolt, clocking a world-leading 9.82 seconds at the
NCAA Championships The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
and going on to win the 100-200 double. His only defeat came at the US Championships, where fellow Tennessee Vol and 2004 Olympic champion
Justin Gatlin Justin Alexander Gatlin (born February 10, 1982) is a retired American sprinter who competed in the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters. He is the 2004 Olympic Champion in the 100 meters, the 2005 and 2017 World Champion in the 100 meters, ...
overtook the inexperienced Coleman, who overstrided towards the finish. The win came as a surprise for many, as the 35-year old veteran and 2005 world champion had an unusually rocky season despite being Bolt's biggest rival for the previous 4 years.
Andre De Grasse Andre De Grasse (born November 10, 1994) is a Canadian sprinter. A six-time Olympic medallist, De Grasse is the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 m, and also won the silver in the 200 m in 2016. He won a second silver in the 4×100 re ...
of
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also announced his intentions to defeat Bolt before his retirement; the triple medallist at the Rio Olympics proved he had the talent and confidence to stay calm against Bolt, especially when he rushed to the Jamaican's shoulder during the 200m semifinals. Despite not having gone under 10 seconds before the championships, many knew that De Grasse was a championship performer and would clock much faster times in London. Meanwhile, Bolt's training partner and 2011 World Champion
Yohan Blake Yohan Blake (born 26 December 1989) is a Jamaican sprinter specialising in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprint races. He won gold at the 100 m at the 2011 World Athletics Championships as the youngest 100 m world champion ever, and a silver m ...
, continued his injury comeback by winning the Jamaican 100m title in 9.90, the second fastest time of the year.
Julian Forte Julian Forte (born 7 January 1993)Julian Forte
Senoj-Jay Givans Senoj-Jay Givans (Born December 30, 1993 in Jamaica) is a track runner formerly from the University of Texas born in Jamaica. He ran a 9.96 100-meter time at the 2016 NCAA championships breaking the 10-second barrier. This was the 9th fastest time ...
, two sub-10 runners, filled out the Jamaican squad.
Akani Simbine Akani Simbine (born 21 September 1993) is a South African sprinter specialising in the 100 metres event. He was fifth at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's 100 metres and was the 100 metres African record holder with a time of 9.84 second ...
of
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
was ranked 3rd in the year with 9.92, and won at the
Doha Diamond League The Doha Diamond League is an annual one-day track and field meeting held at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar. It is part of the Diamond League – the top level international circuit for the sport. It is typically held in May as the fi ...
in May, though many believed he peaked too early as South African runners began their seasons in February.
Christopher Belcher Christopher Belcher (born January 29, 1994 in Sayville, New York) is an American professional track and field sprinter who specializes in the 100 meters and the 200 meters. While in college he competed for the Monroe Mustangs and then the ...
, the NCAA bronze medallist behind Coleman and ranked 4th in the year with 9.93, joined Coleman and Gatlin on the US squad. CJ Ujah of
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appeared to be in top form, winning 3
Diamond League The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions comprising fourteen of the best invitational athletics meetings. The series sits in the top tier of the World Athletics (formerly known as the IAAF) one-day mee ...
races in
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,
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, and
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, the latter in 9.98 seconds. In his absence, the incredibly fast-finishing
Reece Prescod Reece Prescod (born 29 February 1996) is a British sprinter. He won the silver medal in the 100 metres at the 2018 European Championships and bronze for the 4 × 100 m relay at the 2022 World Championships. Prescod is a two-time British ...
beat out former European Champion
James Dasaolu James Dasaolu (born 5 September 1987) is a retired British track and field athlete who specialised in the 100 metres. He was the 2014 European champion over the distance. In July 2013, he became the second fastest Briton of all time after runni ...
at the British Championships. Other key players included co-European record holder and 3-time global finalist
Jimmy Vicaut Jimmy Vicaut (born 27 February 1992 in Bondy, Seine-Saint-Denis) is a French sprinter who specializes in the 100 and 200 metres. His personal best of 9.86 in the 100 m is the joint second fastest time of any European athlete. Biography Vicaut ...
of
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, 7th-ranked Thando Roto of South Africa, and Rio finalist
Ben Youssef Meite Ben is frequently used as a shortened version of the given names Benjamin (name), Benjamin, Benedict (given name), Benedict, Bennett (name), Bennett or Benson (given name), Benson, and is also a given name in its own right. Ben (Hebrew), Ben (in ...
of the
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
Just days before the championships, De Grasse pulled out with a hamstring injury and was forced to miss his final chance to defeat Bolt.


Summary

Coleman won his heat with ease in 10.01. Japanese runner Abdul Hakim Sani Brown placed himself as a favorite and surprised many by beating Blake in the second heat.
Julian Forte Julian Forte (born 7 January 1993)Julian Forte
Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
was the fastest in the round, clocking 9.99 seconds in the third heat; Simbine finished 4th and qualified for the semis as a fastest loser, almost confirming claims he had already peaked earlier in the season. In the final heat, Bolt won with his slowest time of the season; his terrible start showed signs that he was, indeed, retiring at the right time. In the first semi-final,
Justin Gatlin Justin Alexander Gatlin (born February 10, 1982) is a retired American sprinter who competed in the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters. He is the 2004 Olympic Champion in the 100 meters, the 2005 and 2017 World Champion in the 100 meters, ...
qualified but seemed to struggle, losing to
Akani Simbine Akani Simbine (born 21 September 1993) is a South African sprinter specialising in the 100 metres event. He was fifth at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's 100 metres and was the 100 metres African record holder with a time of 9.84 second ...
of
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. Both were favorites to dethrone Bolt. In the second semi-final,
Yohan Blake Yohan Blake (born 26 December 1989) is a Jamaican sprinter specialising in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprint races. He won gold at the 100 m at the 2011 World Athletics Championships as the youngest 100 m world champion ever, and a silver m ...
barely held off the hometown favorite
Reece Prescod Reece Prescod (born 29 February 1996) is a British sprinter. He won the silver medal in the 100 metres at the 2018 European Championships and bronze for the 4 × 100 m relay at the 2022 World Championships. Prescod is a two-time British ...
, who had a sudden surge of speed in the last ten metres to take the automatic qualifying spot from
Su Bingtian Su Bingtian (; born 29 August 1989) is a professional Chinese track and field athlete specializing in the 100 metres event. , he is the only sprinter of non-African descent to run the 100 m with sub-9.90 and sub-9.85, and the first ever Asian-b ...
of
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. Run into slight headwinds, the first two semis were unimpressive, slower than ten seconds. In the third semi-final,
Christian Coleman Christian Coleman (born March 6, 1996) is an American professional track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He is the former world champion in the 100 meters. He was a double gold medallist at the World Champions ...
surprised the world by beating Bolt with 9.97 to his 9.98, despite it being a semi-final; in doing so, he became the first man in four years to beat Bolt, the last being Gatlin by the same margin (0.01) in an
IAAF Diamond League The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions comprising fourteen of the best invitational athletics meetings. The series sits in the top tier of the World Athletics (formerly known as the IAAF) one-day mee ...
event in
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. Coleman rocketed out of the start, while Bolt lumbered. Bolt tried to make up the gap, but sensing he couldn't catch him, eased up at the finish. Bolt's time was still the second fastest in the semis. In the final, Bolt was lined up in lane four, right next to his young rival Coleman. Gatlin lined up in lane eight, with Blake right next to him. At the gun, Coleman got the quickest reaction time, of 0.123, and Bolt with the second slowest in 0.183. Coleman continued with his usual fast start, with Bolt next to him lumbering behind by a metre in fourth expecting to make up ground on
Jimmy Vicaut Jimmy Vicaut (born 27 February 1992 in Bondy, Seine-Saint-Denis) is a French sprinter who specializes in the 100 and 200 metres. His personal best of 9.86 in the 100 m is the joint second fastest time of any European athlete. Biography Vicaut ...
of
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and
Su Bingtian Su Bingtian (; born 29 August 1989) is a professional Chinese track and field athlete specializing in the 100 metres event. , he is the only sprinter of non-African descent to run the 100 m with sub-9.90 and sub-9.85, and the first ever Asian-b ...
inside him. Meanwhile, the other half of the field seemed to struggle in the first 40 metres, but began to catch up with the pack afterwards. At that mark, Bolt began making up ground, first on Su, then on Vicaut. With every step, Bolt gained on his young rival, but as he got closer he began to tense up. Suddenly, with 15 metres to go, Gatlin in lane eight came out of nowhere and surged ahead of the two, securing his first world title since 2005 by 0.02 seconds. Gatlin's winning time of 9.92 seconds was the slowest World Championship winning time in the 100 metres since
2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A des ...
, but was a new Masters world record, beating
Kim Collins Kim Collins (born 5 April 1976) is a former track and field sprinter from Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2003, he became the World Champion in the 100 metres. He represented his country at the Summer Olympics on five occasions, from 1996 to 2016, a ...
' 9.93 that he set the previous year. Coleman finished second in 9.94 seconds, while Bolt was third in 9.95 seconds, equaling his seasonal best that he set in
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.


Records

Before the competition records were as follows: The following records were set at the competition:


Qualification standard

The standard to qualify automatically for entry was 10.12.


Schedule

The event schedule, in local time (UTC+1), was as follows:


Results


Preliminary round

The preliminary round took place on 4 August in four heats as follows: The first three in each heat ( Q ) and the next two fastest ( q ) qualified for the first round proper. The overall results were as follows:


Heats

The first round proper took place on 4 August in six heats as follows: The first three in each heat ( Q ) and the next six fastest ( q ) qualified for the semi-finals. The overall results were as follows:


Semi-finals

The semi-finals took place on 5 August in three heats as follows: The first two in each heat ( Q ) and the next two fastest ( q ) qualified for the final. The overall results were as follows:


Final

The final took place on 5 August at 21:46. The wind was −0.8 metres per second and the results were as follows
photo finish
:


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2017 World Championships in Athletics - Men's 100 metres
100 100 or one hundred (Roman numeral: C) is the natural number following 99 and preceding 101. In medieval contexts, it may be described as the short hundred or five score in order to differentiate the English and Germanic use of "hundred" to de ...
100 metres at the World Athletics Championships