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Rio 2016: Bolt and Gatlin set to go head to head for 100m

Felix Tamsut (AP)August 14, 2016

Usain Bolt could become the first man to win three straight 100m Olympic golds, as he looks to complete the first leg of a another sprint hat-trick on Monday morning. Long-term rival Justin Gatlin stands in his way.

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Brasilien Olympische Spiele in Rio - Sprinter Usain Bolt und Justin Gatlin
Image: Getty Images/AFP/O. Morin

After the achievements of Michael Phelps, the Jamaican sprinter is looking to be the next Olympian to re-write the record books at the Rio 2016 Games. Bolt will try to finish his decorated Olympic career with a third straight 100m, 200m and 4x100m treble.

The first task comes in the 100m on Sunday but his American rival Gatlin will be waiting on the wings should the Jamaican stumble.

The pair made it easily through Sunday morning's preliminaries and both came through the semifinals in the early hours of Monday morning (CET). They will race in one of the most anticipated events of the 2016 Olympics, the 100m final.

Despite being kept out of last month's world championships in Amsterdam due to injury, Bolt is still the favorite to win in Rio. If he does, he'll become the first man ever to win more than two 100m gold medals. Bolt currently shares the honor with American athlete Carl Lewis, who took top spot at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

“I'm feeling good, I'm happy. So now it's all about execution and getting it right when it comes to the finals,” said the world-record holder after qualifying for the semifinals.

Bolt has competition

But the gold medal won't be won without a fight, with Gatlin keen to steal the show. With a personal best of 9.77, the American is thought to be the only sprinter able to give Bolt a run for his money. Gatlin ran the fastest time in the heats, 10.01 seconds. The American is also the fastest man this year with a time of 9.80 seconds.

Rio 2016 Olympische Spiele Justin Gatlin
Image: Getty Images/A. Hassenstein

Gatlin nearly beat Bolt at the 2015 world championships in Beijing, only to falter and ending up losing to the Jamaican once again. “A win or loss, they're all lessons you learn to become a stronger athlete,” said Gatlin at the time.

The American has served two bans after failing drug tests but said the past is now behind him. “I worked hard like everybody else. I got tested like everybody else. I'm back here,” he said.

The 100 meters final takes place Monday, at 03:25am German time.