Brilliant Bolt storms to 200 gold,Argentina win first men’s hockey gold

RIO DE JANEIRO: Usain Bolt won his second gold medal of the Rio Olympics, brushing aside all-comers again in his favourite 200m sprint but failing in his bid to smash his own world record.

The Jamaican triumphed as Britain’s Brownlee brothers dominated in triathlon to keep their country ahead of China in the medals race.

The 29-year Bolt timed 19.78sec to easily beat Canadian Andre de Grasse into second and France’s Christophe Lemaitre into third, both of whom failed to get under 20sec.

Before the race, Bolt had said he would go for his world record of 19.19sec. “I wasn’t happy with the time, my body just wouldn’t respond in the straight. I’m getting older and my body is ageing.

“Personally I think this is my last 200 but my coach may beg to differ.”

He also insisted he belonged in the pantheon of all sports legends. “I am trying to be one of the greatest, to be among Ali and Pele. I hope after these Games I will be in that bracket.”

Argentina won their first Olympic men’s hockey gold with a 4-2 victory over Belgium thanks to a 10-minute goal blitz in the first half.

The title also allowed the South Americans to match their best gold haul at a Games of three which was last achieved in 1948.

“It’s like touching the sky with your hands, so I feel so happy,” said Gonzalo Peillat, who scored one of the goals to take his tally for the Games to 11.

“We won the tournament and it was the first time in the history of Argentina. It’s my dream. When I started playing hockey, I was always thinking about this dream and now it came true.”

Belgium, also playing in their first final, had taken the lead after just three minutes through Tanguy Cosyns. But the South Americans hit back with Pedro Ibarra, Ignacio Ortiz and Peillat scoring in quick succession in the first quarter.

Gauthier Boccard hit a sensational second for Belgium when he dribbled the ball past three defenders before finding the corner of the goal.

But Augustin Mazzilli guaranteed the gold when he was allowed to tap into an empty net.

The result was still Belgium’s best finish in men’s hockey at an Olympics, with third place at the Antwerp Games in 1920 their previous best.

Earlier, two-time defending champions Germany beat the Netherlands in a shootout for bronze after they finished level at 1-1 at the end of normal time.

On Copacabana beach, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee became the first British brothers to win Olympic gold and silver when they blitzed the field in the men’s triathlon.

History was made in the taekwondo with a first medal ever for Jordan, while Kimia Alizadeh claimed a first medal for an Iranian woman.

Britain’s Jade Jones beat Spain’s Eva Caldo 16-7 in the women’s under 57kg final.

But there was as much attention on the bronze match where Alizadeh beat Sweden’s Nikita Glasnovic 5-1.

“I am so happy for Iranian girls because it is the first medal and I hope at the next Olympics we will get a gold,” said Alizadeh.

Jordan’s Ahmad Abughaush Abughaush beat Alexey Denisenko of Russia 10-6 to win the men’s under-68kg division.

In women’s golf, back on the Olympic agenda for the first time in 116 years, South Korea’s Park In-Bee has a one shot lead over American Stacy Lewis at the midway point.

Japanese duo Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi claimed badminton women’s doubles gold.

Elsewhere hosts Brazil, New Zealand and Britain won sailing golds; Spain, Ukraine, Hungary and Germany took the canoe and kayak titles on offer.

And Cuba’s three-time amateur world champion boxer Julio Cesar La Cruz bamboozled Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov to win the light-heavyweight title.

The reigning US 4x100m women’s relay champions ran alone on the track to get a place in the final after being given a reprieve by the IAAF.

They were left facing disqualification after a dropped baton exchange between Allyson Felix and English Gardner. Judges ruled Felix had been knocked off-balance by Brazilian runner Kauiza Venancio and allowed a race against the clock.

The Americans managed it, got the fastest time and forced China out of the final.

Dalilah Muhammad became the first US winner in the women’s 400m hurdles. The fastest woman in the world this year over the distance, blasted out of the blocks and held on to a commanding lead for a deserved gold in 53.13sec.

Sara Slott Petersen of Denmark took silver while Muhammad’s teammate Ashley Spencer claimed bronze.

Defending champion and world record holder Ashton Eaton won the decathlon title, matching Briton Daley Thompson who won twice in 1980 and 1984.

“One day, I’m going to have to meet Daley, shake his hand and thank him for giving me something to chase after,” said Eaton.

The other American gold came in the shot put, where Ryan Crouser won with a best of 22.52 metres, a new Olympic record.