Two years after his last defeat - also on this track - the world and Olympic champion had to give best to the man who has got closest to his world records, Tyson Gay.

After putting pressure on the lanky Jamaican with a characteristically swift start, the American was never headed in the 100 metres in DN Galan Samsung Diamond League here, and Bolt, grimacing with the effort, was not able to make his habitual 70m surge, finishing instead in 9.97sec, the second slowest time he has ever registered in a final.

Gay, his face maniacal, sent an uproar of surprise through the packed 1912 stadium as he won in 9.84.

It was a meeting record, earning him an automatic prize of a $10,000 (£6,200) diamond.

But it is the precious victory he will prize above all else.

On a sunny evening when Alice Cooper - playing in Stockholm this weekend - had said an earlier hello to a packed stadium on an open-top car circuit of the track - it was  Gay who showed there was No More Mr Nice Guy.

As Bolt, who appeared to have given up hope of beating his rival in the final few metres, made a neutral exit, the photographers on the track were seized by indecision over who to take pictures.

Characteristically there were no bow-and-arrow poses or antics from Gay, who acknowledged his first victory over Bolt in three attempts with little more than a perfunctory raising of his arm.

It was nevertheless a significant marker for Gay - and an indication, perhaps, that Bolt had not been bluffing when he had said earlier in the week that he had tended to slack in training this year.

But if Bolt had failed in his objective of staying undefeated this season, he appeared to have achieved his other ambition of avoiding injury.

Gay had arrived with happy memories of Stockholm, having won here the previous year in a wind-assisted time of 9.79 in a race where former world record holder Asafa Powell, who had had to drop out of this race at late notice with a back injury.

For Bolt, the vibe was less promising, as it was on this track two years ago that he had suffered his last defeat, headed to the 100m line by Powell, who finished 0.01sec ahead.

There had been massive cheers for Bolt when he was introduced to the crowd, suspiciously many of whom at the finishing end were brandishing little Jamaican flags on sticks.

Whoever was in Gay’s camp had conspicuously failed to match this allocation with Stars and Stripes.

By the time the final got underway the sun had dipped below of the venerable stadium, built for the 1912 Olympics.

But if the sun was dipping, Gay’s star was rising.

"Now I’ve got to keep it up," Gay said.



Bolt was phlegmatic in defeat.

"Just one of those days," he said.

"I told you I’m not unbeatable.

"I did not train as hard as in past years, so I can’t complain.

"And it was Tyson Gay.

"My congratulations to him.

"I’m not in my best shape and he is in great shape.

"I still have a relay in Zurich and the 100m in Brussels to finish the season.

"I simply wasn’t ready enough  for that clash."

Gay added: "I’m happy with the victory, but still looking forward to when Usain and Asafa will be in 9.6 shape to race with them.

"My body worked well today. I was excited and motivated.

"My start was okay and I must admit I was surprised not to be seeing Usain in front after half of the race.

"But I knew he was not 100 per cent ready.

"Still, it feels good to be the winner.

"But I think I can run a lot faster."

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