Jamaican runner Usain Bolt has sprinted to another Olympic gold medal, winning the 200-meter race in what he says will be his last Summer Games race at that distance.
His time of 19.78 seconds in Rio Thursday was more than a half second off his own world record, but still nearly a quarter of a second better than second place finisher Andre De Grasse of Canada.
After the race, Bolt said he was pleased with the gold, but wished he could have had a faster time.
Bolt has now won three straight Olympic golds in both the 200- and 100-meter sprints. On Friday - two days before the turns 30 - Bolt goes for this third straight in the 4x100 relays with his Jamaican teammates.
In other events Thursday, American Ashton Eaton successfully defended his Olympic decathlon title, finishing ahead of Frenchman Kevin Mayer. Eaton is the world record holder in the event that decides the world's best all-around athlete.
The Americans won three other gold medals in track and field Thursday. Delilah Muhammad became the first American woman to win the 400-meter hurdles. Kerron Clement won the men's 400-meter hurdles, and Ryan Crouser set an Olympic record in the men's shot put with a distance of 22.52 meters.
Allyson Felix, who is on the defending U.S. women's 4x100 relay team, dropped the baton during a qualifying heat after being bumped by a Brazilian runner. The U.S. appealed, and in a bizarre scenario, the U.S. team had to run the 4x100 relay alone on the track. They posted a time fast enough to advance to Friday night's final.
Jordan earned an Olympic medal for the first time ever when taekwondo fighter Ahmad Abughaush won gold in the men's 68-kilogram division.
Brazil's men's beach volleyball team made the hosts in Rio happy by winning the gold medal among 25 medal events held Thursday.
China's diving team has dominated in the Rio Games, winning six of seven events. On Thursday, Ren Qian, 15, won the gold medal in the women's 10-meter platform.
Two brothers from Britain placed first and second in the triathlon after medaling in the same event in London in 2012. Alistair Brownlee became the first triathlete to retain his Olympic title. His brother Jonathan Brownlee, who took bronze in 2012, took silver in Rio.
Looking ahead to Friday, American pole vaulter Jenn Suhr will attempt to defend her Olympic title. Other medals in track and field will be awarded in the men's 50-kilometer race walk, the women's 20-kilometer race walk and the men's hammer throw.
Germany and Sweden vie for the women's football (soccer) gold.
Medals will also be awarded in wrestling, boxing, water polo, field hockey, diving and BMX cycling.
