The winning time of 9.75sec makes the 22-year-old sprinter (pictured top, in orange) the fourth fastest man of all time behind Bolt's astonishing 9.58, the 9.69 run by Tyson Gay of the United States and the 9.72 recorded by fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell.

Powell came third in Kingston, behind Blake – who won the 100m world title last year after the world record holder had been disqualified for a false start – and Bolt to secure the final individual 100m place for London 2012.

"No pressure at all... everything is good – I'm just fortunate," said Blake, after beating his personal best of 9.82.

"I'm the national champion of Jamaica now, I go into the Olympics like this."


A subdued Bolt, who was slow out of the blocks in both the final and earlier semi-final, clocked 9.86, with Powell, the former world record holder, running 9.88.

He said afterwards of his start: "I had to ignore it – I had trouble getting out but I kept feeling like I could not give up."

Powell had received medical treatment in Florida on the eve of the race, and shortly after crossing the line he collapsed and had to be helped off the track.

Bolt, who won Olympic gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the 2008 Games in Beijing, had held the previous fastest time in the world this year after clocking 9.76 in Rome last month.

In the women's 100m final, defending Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (pictured above, centre) set a Jamaican record of 10.70, with Veronica Campbell-Brown second and Kerron Stewart third.

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