Tyson Gay became the third man to do the sprint double at the IAAF World Championships when he took the 200m tonight in a championship record 19.76sec.

Maurice Greene and Justin Gatlin, both Americans, are the only other two to achieve the feat before him.

Gay’s time erases the championship record set by fellow American Michael Johnson in Gothenburg in 1995 by 0.03.

After becoming the world’s best combination sprinter, following his 9.84/19.62 at the US trials, Gay now went a step further by adding both World titles to his portfolio, following his 9.85 victory in the 100m here.

Winning the silver medal was the tall Jamaican, Usain Bolt, with American No2, Wallace Spearmon in bronze, adding to his silver from Helsinki

Bolt, for his part, emulated compatriot Christopher Williams, who also captured silver in 2001.

“Oh, it feels so great,” said the double champion. “But I am still tired. Maurice Greene is one of my idols and I am proud to do the double like him.
 
“Usain Bolt came out so fast and I had to work hard to catch him. I should be thankful to him to make this such a fast race."

Gay explained that he had had a tight hamstring since before the semi-finals but, "I stayed relaxed and kept pumping. I felt the twinge in the warm-up, but during the race it was fine.

"I have two golds and I want the third in relay.

"I beat the meet record of Michael Johnson and that is great feeling because he is also one of my idols. I believe it is possible to beat his world record, but I have to build up more strength. I knew that in the final I would have to run a 19.60-19.70 time.”

Bolt said: “I tried hard, but for the moment he is unbeatable.

“I m proud of myself to get the silver for Jamaica. Hey, I'm one of the best in the world, that is not small.
 
“I had a good start, good first 100, then I was really trying hard, but he was better. It gives me a lot of motivation to work even harder for next season to be able to beat him.”

Spearmon, with a minor medal for the second championships, was less effusive. “I had a bad start, almost fell in the first couple of steps,” he said. “Tyson ran a great race. Usain ran a great race. Congrats to them. I should be happy to get a medal, but I'm not. My goal was to win.”

Though not in his favourite lane, six or seven, Bolt employed his tactic from lane five of blitzing the bend to subdue the opposition.

Its effectiveness could be judged by the way he ate up the stagger with Spearmon on his outside. By the time half the straight was run, he was level with the second American and threatening to run away with the title.

But Gay had one advantage, though. On the Jamaican’s inside, he could match every move his rival made and, by the time they approached the straight, the 100m World champion was up on Bolt and establishing an advantage.

Looking more relaxed than in the shorter sprint, Gay gradually extended his lead to more than a metre, with Bolt blowing hard and rocking from side to side as he urged his long frame forward.

The Jamaican was well clear in second though, as behind him Spearmon left himself with too much to do and though he came with his customary charge, it was only to retrieve bronze from compatriot, Rodney Martin, who was rewarded with a PB 20.06, just 0.01 away from a medal.
  
Osaka 2007 News Team/mb