Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 2:55 AM

The world's fastest man Usain Bolt collected his third Olympic gold medal when he helped Jamaica smash the world record to win the men's 4x100 metres relay final.

Bolt, who won the 100 and 200 finals in world record times, teamed up with Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell to clock 37.10 seconds, slashing 0.30 off the mark set by the United States at the 1993 world championships.

"It's a great feeling. I was really excited to go out there and give Usain his third world record," Powell said.

Trinidad and Tobago finished second in 38.06, about 10 metres behind their Caribbean neighbours, and Japan was third in 38.15.

Britain, the US and Nigeria, the medallists in Athens four years ago, missed out on the final after mistakes in the heats, leaving Jamaica as overwhelming favourites for gold.

While Jamaica's women's 4x100 relay team missed out on a medal after failing to get finish, there were no mistakes for the Jamaican men as they handed over seamlessly with Bolt running the third leg and Powell, the former world record holder, sprinting clear on the last.

The victory stretches Jamaica's dominance in the Games' sprinting schedule while setting the fifth world record on the track.