Bolt golden again for a perfect 9-for-9

SEE ALSO: 2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS | A recap of Friday’s events in Rio

Associated Press

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Undefeated, uncatchable, unquestionably the best.

Usain Bolt bid a blazing-fast farewell to the Rio de Janeiro Games — and likely the Olympics altogether — Friday night with yet another anchor leg for the ages. He turned a close 4x100 relay race against Japan and the United States into a never-a-doubt runaway, helping Jamaica cross the line in 37.27.

“There you go,” he said. “I am the greatest.”

Japan won the silver medal, finishing .33 seconds behind.

The U.S. finished the race third but endured yet another relay debacle — disqualified because leadoff runner Mike Rodgers passed the baton to Justin Gatlin outside the exchange zone. That promoted Canada to the bronze medal.

This marked the ninth time since 1995 the U.S. men have been disqualified or failed to get the baton around at Olympics or world championships. That will cause more hand-wringing in the States.

Bolt hasn’t botched a relay handoff in any major championship since he started running them in 2007.

Easier when you know you’re the fastest man out there.

Bolt’s record in Olympic finals: Nine races, nine wins.

Nobody’s done that before, and nobody’s on the horizon to do it again soon.

Along with Bolt for his final trip down the track were Nickel Ashmeade, training partner Yohan Blake and the Jamaican elder statesman, former world-record holder Asafa Powell.

When Bolt received the yellow baton from Ashmeade for his final run down the straightaway, he was even, maybe a step behind, Aska Cambridge of Japan and Trayvon Bromell of the United States.

That lasted about four steps.

With 70 meters to go, it was all over. Bolt looked at the clock — same as he did when he finished the 200-meter victory the night before.

No world record, but he still has a piece of that one, too — it’s 36.84 seconds, set four years ago at the London Games.

“I am just relieved. It’s happened. I am just happy, proud of myself. It’s come true,” Bolt said. “The pressure is real. I look at it as an accomplishment.”

Musical selection for Bolt’s final parade around the track: Bob Marley’s “Jammin.”

With most of the other debates over about greatest this, greatest that, a new one might be whether Bolt now surpasses Marley as the most famous person to rock the world from the country known for sea, sun and sprints.