Bolt finished ahead of fellow Jamaican, Yohan Blake, who finished in 9.75 and Justin Gattlin, who ran 9.79, one hundredth of a second ahead of Tyson Gay, who finished fourth.

The fact both Blake and Gattlin ran personal best times in the race gives an indication of Bolt's greatness. The Jamaican, cheered loudly by the crowd in the Olympic Stadium, wasn't fast out of the blocks and found himself with time to make up on Gattlin, who got off to a flyer.

However, once Bolt was up to his full height after around 40 meters, there was no stopping him as he powered past his rivals.

"I was slightly worried about the start," he confessed, "I slipped on the block and ddin't have the best reaction, but I secured it and that' s OK," he said, praising the crowd.

"I knew it was going to be like this. It was wonderful, I had no doubts about that," commented the gold medal winner.

There was no slowing down as there had been in Beijing four years ago, as the gold medal was not secure until he crossed the finish line. Meanwhile Blake produced a powerful finish to get his nose ahead of Gattlin in the final meters.

"Bolt's the fastest man in the world and I have won a silver medal, what more can I ask for. To be the second fastest man in the world behind Bolt is an honor," said Blake.

The disappointment of the race was Asafa Powell as he pulled a muscle halfway through the race, but the night belonged to Bolt, who celebrated in trademark fashion as the crowd went wild.

Monday sees Jamaica celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence from Britain, Bolt and also Blake have given their homeland an early birthday present and along with women's gold medalist, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce have maintained Jamaica's dominance over 100 meters.

But Sunday was not just about the 100 meter final and although Bolt will deservedly capture the headlines, the night saw four other track and field medals decided along with the finalists for the men' s 1,500 meters and 400 meters were.

The first final underway was the women's triple jump and it produced the first gold medalist of the night as Kazakhstan's Olga Rypakova on with a jump of 14.98, which she produced on her third attempt.

"I thought to have a chance of winning, I would have to jump more than 15 meters. I did my best to to do that. I didn't expect to win, although deep in my heart, I hoped to. I am going to fly home tomorrow to celebrate with my family and my daughter," she said.

Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia produced a leap of 14.80 on the sixth and final attempt to take silver ahead of Olga Saladuha by just one centimeter. Britain's Yamile 39-year-old Aldama ended the competition in fifth place.

"I'm happy for myself and the people at home in Colombia. I was thinking I needed to improve with every jump. It's a beautiful world and very happy," commented Ibaraguen.

Sanya Richards Ross won thrilling women's 400 meters in 49.55 after holding off a strong charge from defending gold medalist, Britain's Christine Ohuruogu, down the final straight.

Richards Ross went into the race as World Champion and with two relay gold medals from Athens and Beijing and an individual bronze from 2008, but this was the crowning moment of her career.

Russia's Antonina Krivoshapka had led into the last 100 meters, but ran out of steam allowing Ross, Ohuruogu and DeeDee Trotter to overtake. Ohuruogu had struggled in the early stages of the race, but her powerful finish, helped by the cheers of a partisan home crowd, saw her run a year's best of 49.70.

"I worked so hard for that and prepared for this over the past two years and I fought all of the way to the end," said Richards-Ross, while Ohuruogu said she's known she wasn't going to be able to catch the winner in the closing meters.

There was a whiff of controversy as Ezekiel Kemboi won the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Kemboi, the reigning World Champions, who also claimed Olympic gold in 2004, clipped fellow countryman Brimin Kipruto with around 700 meters left to run. Kipruto battled back but could only finish fifth.

Ethiopian Roda Gari tried to take the race from the front in the last lap, but Kemboi had the sprint to finish a slow (8.18) race ahead of France's Mahiedine Mekhssi-Benabbad, with Abel Mutai from Kenya claiming bronze.

"I want to thank the British people, it felt incredible to win my country's only gold medal here in London," commented Kemboi, while Mutai also celebrated, saying, "I thought I was going to win in the last 400," he said, describing the race as "tactical and tough."

Meanwhile Hungarian, Krisztian Pars won the men's hammer throw with 80.59 meters ahead of Slovenian, Primoz Kozmus and Japan's Koji Morofushi, who took bronze with a throw of 78.71.

"In the first round it was clear that nobody among my competitors was going to throw over 80 meters. I am happy with what I did. I won the gold medal," said Pars.

In the 1,500 meters semifinals, Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi produced an big acceleration to finish ahead of reigning Olympic Champion, Asbel Kiprop in 3.42.24, Mekonnen Gebremedhin, Leonel Manzano and Norway's Henrik Ingerbrigsten in the first heat, while the second semi was run at a faster pace to try and assure the two extra qualification places.

Abdalaati Iguider led the second semi home with World Championship silver medalist, Silas Kiplagat was second and Beijing silver medal winner, Nicholas Willis finished third.

The men's 400 meter semifinals witnessed South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, the man christened 'Blade Runner' as a result of his prosthetic lower legs, try to make history. Pistorius finished last in his heat, but still took everything positive from the experience.

"The whole experience was mind-blowing. I aimed to reach the semi-finals and it is a dream come true and I want to thank everyone for their support," said the South African.

Lalonde Gordon was the fastest to qualify with a time of 44.58, followed by James Kirani and Chris Brown, but the night belonged to Bolt.