Controversial American Justin Gatlin has rained on Usain Bolt's farewell parade by beating the Jamaican super sprinter in the men's 100m final at the athletics world championships in London.
American sprinter Justin Gatlin Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, claimed the gold in 9.92 seconds.
Fellow American and fastest qualifier Christian Coleman was second in 9.94 and Bolt was third in 9.95.
It was the final individual race for the 30-year-old Jamaican at an Olympics or world championships, although he will get one more shot at a title in London in the 4x100m relay next weekend.
"(The crowd reception) was wonderful - I never expected this," said Bolt.
"It's just a wonderful experience.
"London - I really appreciate the support you have given me.
"I'm just really sorry I couldn't end up winning."
Apart from a false start in the world 100m final six years ago in Daegu which gifted the title to countryman Yohan Blake, Bolt had been unbeaten in 100m and 200m finals at global championships dating back to 2008.
Gatlin had gone closer than anyone to ending that streak at the 2015 world titles in Beijing, when he was edged out by one hundredth of a second in the 100m decider.
On Saturday night, the 2004 Olympic champ finally got his man.
NCAA champion Coleman was expected to provide the stiffest challenge to Bolt, but it was the 35-year-old Gatlin who caused the boilover.
Gatlin had been booed by the capacity crowd before the race, but Bolt was quick to embrace the American in the aftermath.
"I tuned it out through the rounds and stayed the course," said Gatlin.
"I did what I had to do.
"The people who love me are here cheering for me and cheering at home.
"It is Bolt's last race. I have had many victories and many defeats down the years.
" .. the first thing (Bolt) did was congratulate me and say that I didn't deserve the boos.
"He is an inspiration."
Olympic champion Almaz Ayana destroyed the field in the women's 10,000m final, finishing an extraordinary 46.37 seconds ahead of the runner-up, fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba.
Former drug addict Luvo Manyonga came out on top in a high-quality men's long jump final.
The South African, who had a dysfunctional and poverty-stricken upbringing in the township of Mbekweni before turning his life around, won gold with a leap of 8.48m.
American Jarrion Lawson produced his best jump of 8.44m in the final round to pocket the silver medal ahead of another South African, Ruswahl Samaai.
The other title decided on day two of the championships went to Andrius Gudzius of Lithuania in the men's discus.
His winning throw of 69.21m was only two centimetres further than the silver- medal effort by Swede Daniel Stahl.
