Usain Bolt delivered Justin Gatlin a second knockout blow in five days to win his fourth straight 200 metres world title yesterday and prove that when it comes to major championship sprinting, he simply has no peer.

In the seven years since the Jamaican first lit up the Bird’s Nest at the 2008 Olympics, a disqualification in the 100 metres at the 2011 World Championships is the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record in major global races.

Six Olympic golds and now 10 at the worlds are glistening metal proof of his ability to get the best out of his huge natural talent when the stakes are highest.

It was all supposed to be different this time around, however.

Bolt has struggled with pelvic problems this year and been burdened with the unwanted task of ‘saving’ athletics after allegations of widespread doping in the sport dominated the month leading up to the championships.

Usain Bolt winning the 200m World Championships race in Beijing, yesterday.Usain Bolt winning the 200m World Championships race in Beijing, yesterday.

Gatlin, 33, is in the form of his life and their showdowns in the two sprints in Beijing were the most highly anticipated contests of the championships.

Yet, when it came to the crunch, Bolt brushed all that and Gatlin aside, digging deep to win the 100 metres by a hundredth of a second and his pet event by almost 2/10ths of a second yesterday.

“This season a lot of people have been doubting me and saying I’m going to lose. I’ve just shown my championship potential,” the 29-year-old told reporters after clocking 19.55 seconds, the best time in the world this season.

Anaso Jobodwana took bronze in 19.87 for South Africa ahead of Panama’s Alonso Edward who was awarded the same time but lost out on a medal by 2/1,000ths of a second.

With four 200 metres gold medals from World Championships and Olympic Games, Allyson Felix is another proven performer and she showed she was just as effective at double the distance by winning her first 400 crown.

The American set off at a stunning pace and built a huge lead she was able to defend over the last 100, edging out Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas after clocking 49.26 seconds, the fastest time in the world this season.

While admitting to “bitter” feelings about missing the 200 because of a schedule clash, Felix was delighted with her ninth World Championship gold.

“It’s my first 400 title,” she said.

“It’s a huge blessing.”

Compatriot Christian Taylor produced the second longest triple jump in history to win his showdown with Cuba’s Pedro Pichardo and claim a second world title.

Taylor soared 18.21 metres with his sixth and final jump, pushing Pichardo into second place as he landed just short of Jonathan Edwards’s 20-year-old world record of 18.29.

World record holder Anita Wlodarczyk’s victorious throw in the hammer was also the second best of all time as she seized her second world title.

The 30-year-old Pole is the only woman who has thrown the hammer beyond 80 metres and did it twice yesterday, winning with her fourth effort of 80.85 metres.

Not everything goes entirely the way of even the greatest champions, however, as Bolt discovered when a cameraman and his Segway collided into him on his lap of honour.

Bolt was knocked to the ground but sustained only minor cuts, joking that he was trying to start a rumour Gatlin had paid the man to do it.

“I want my money back,” the American quipped ruefully.

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