Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 2:44 AM

Jamaica's Usain Bolt has roared to victory in the 200 metres final in a world record 19.30 seconds to secure the first men's Olympic sprint double since 1984.

In a run no less sensational than his world record performance in the 100m final, Bolt destroyed the field to clinch his first major title in his specialist event.

Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles initially took silver in 19.82 and bronze went to defending champion Shawn Crawford of the United States (19.96) after his compatriot Wallace Spearmon was disqualified for running out of his lane.

But the United States later lodged an appeal against Martina, saying he also ran out of his lane, and it was upheld.

It means that Crawford was elevated to the silver medal, with compatriot Walter Dix taking the bronze.

American Carl Lewis was the last man to win both sprints at the same Games in 1984 in Los Angeles and Bolt became just the ninth athlete to achieve the feat.

The previous world record was 19.32, set by American Michael Johnson in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics final.

Bolt started well again to hit the front before he came off the bend and he powered down the straight to win by at least five metres.

"I'm number one," he mouthed at TV cameras, beating his chest and blowing kisses at the 91,000 crowd in the Bird's Nest.

"I feel good. I have just proved to the world I am a true champion and with hard work anything is possible," he told BBC TV.

"This is more than I can handle really, I'm a bit overwhelmed. I didn't think a 200m record was on because I felt tired after the heats.

"But I told everyone I was going to come out here and leave everything on the track and I did just that."

Bolt had won the 100m in swashbuckling style at the weekend, clocking 9.69 to shave 0.03 off his own world record.

This time he again joked on his way to the block, firing an imaginary arrow in the air, but looked deadly serious as he opened up a big gap and steamed through the finishing line to surpass Johnson's longstanding mark.

'Superman 2'


"Superman 2 - incredible," Johnson told BBC TV.

"Incredible performance by Usain Bolt once again. He finished up in an incredible time. This was an incredible performance, he wanted that record. Congratulations Usain Bolt.

"He got an incredible start. I looked at his start and just went wow. It was more amazing than the 100 metres... guys that tall should not be able to start like that."This is his favourite event, he went for it, he came in focused on it, knowing he would most likely win the gold.

"My concern was he would not have the ability to hold that speed for the entire race but he showed he has been working on that.

"He used every ounce of energy, he wanted that record."

Nine men have now won the double sprint in Olympic history.

Bolt, who turns 22 on August 21, had "Happy Birthday" played to him over the stadium loudspeakers some 90 minutes early as he danced around the track on a victory lap.

He has established himself as the joint hero of the Games along with American swimmer Michael Phelps, who took an unprecedented eight golds.

Just as Phelps's exploits in the Water Cube have thrilled Americans, so Bolt has swelled national pride across his Caribbean homeland.The lanky runner started sprinting only when a school cricket coach noticed his speed as a fast bowler.