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Jamaican Usain Bolt trumped American rival Justin Gatlin in a thrilling showdown to retain his 100 metres title in style at the world athletics championships on Sunday.
Bolt, also the double Olympic gold medallist and world record holder in the blue riband event, ran a season's best of 9.79 seconds in Beijing.
I came out relaxed, no stress, and brought it home. It is all about running the race and getting it done. My aim is to be number one until I retire
Usain Bolt
Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was just one-hundredth of a second off Bolt, taking silver in 9.80 with fellow American Trayvon Bromell and Canadian Andre de Grassse awarded bronze medals after both timing 9.92.
 “I came out relaxed, no stress, and brought it home,” said Bolt. “It is all about running the race and getting it done. My aim is to be number one until I retire.”
 Asked whether he understood why he was being regarded as the saviour of his sport, Bolt said: "For me I understand why but I wanted to do it for myself also. It was a big deal.
"This means a lot because I've been struggling all season. It's taken me a while to work things out. It's been up and down but it's okay now."
Gatlin, 33, was philosophical after tasting defeat for the first time in 29 races, a streak dating back two years.
 “I feel good,” he shrugged. “It was a great race, I just got nibbed at the line by the great Usain.”
The towering Jamaican, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Friday, was greeted with massive cheers at the stadium in which he took the world by storm at the 2008 Olympics with a first treble gold - he repeated the feat in London in 2012.
In their first meeting over 100m since the last final in the Moscow worlds in 2013 when Gatlin also came in second to Bolt, the American actually suffered from a slower start than the Jamaican.
Gatlin, a renowned fast starter who has not lost over 100m or 200m since 2013 and has set personal bests for both distances - 9.74 and 19.57 - this season, pegged equal with Bolt out of the blocks.
Sandwiched between Mike Rodgers in four and Tyson Gay in six, Bolt, head down for the first 40 metres, moved into his "drive phase", unbuckling his long, powerful legs, but didn't dare look across the field until a savage dip at the line saw him win a memorable race.
Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill completed a fairy-tale comeback by winning her second world heptathlon title following an astonishing meltdown by fellow Briton Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
Ennis-Hill, returning to the sport after giving birth last year and battling a series of niggling injuries, was all but gift-wrapped the gold medal after Johnson-Thompson failed to post a mark in the long jump.
"This is definitely one of the greatest moments in my career," said Ennis-Hill.
"We've all been on a huge journey this year. My family are incredible, I have to thank my husband for all his support and my little boy. I've got an incredible team around me."
"I was so sad for her, but she's got time on her hands," said Ennis-Hill of Johnson-Thompson.
Joe Kovacs won the shot put final by defeating two-time defending champion David Storl of Germany, giving the US its first gold medal of the meet. Kovacs threw 21.93 metres on his penultimate attempt to hold a 19cm edge over Storl. O’Dayne Richards of Jamaica took bronze with 21.69.
Pawel Fajdeck of Poland retained his hammer title with a best mark of 80.88 metres. Three-time Asian Games champion Dlishod Nazarov of Tajikistan took silver and Wojciech Nowicki of Poland finished with bronze on a countback after both recorded 78.55. 


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2015 IAAF World Championships

He's still the king: Usain Bolt trumps Justin Gatlin to retain world 100 metres title

Jamaica's Usain Bolt on his way to winning the gold medal, ahead of arch rival Justin Gatlin (left) in the men's 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing. Photo: EPA

Relief for Jamaica’s Usain Bolt as he soaks up the moment on retaining his 100m title. Photo: EPA

Britain’s Jessica Ennis-Hill is overjoyed after winning the women’s heptathlon. Photo: AFP 

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Towering Jamaican runs a season's best of 9.79 seconds to confirm his status as the greatest sprinter ever


Jamaican Usain Bolt trumped American rival Justin Gatlin in a thrilling showdown to retain his 100 metres title in style at the world athletics championships on Sunday.


He's still the king: Usain Bolt trumps Justin Gatlin to retain world 100 metres title

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Towering Jamaican runs a season's best of 9.79 seconds to confirm his status as the greatest sprinter ever

Towering Jamaican runs a season's best of 9.79 seconds to confirm his status as the greatest sprinter ever