A chest-beating, roaring, kiss-blowing, all-swagger Christian Coleman blitzed through to the men’s 100m gold  in a pulsating finale on the second day of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 yesterday.
Coleman, who made it to the Worlds after USADA dropped charges against him for missed tests earlier this month, had made his intentions crystal clear after coming through the opening rounds as the man to beat with sub-10 second times.
A few moments after an incredible light show at the state-of-the-art Khalifa International Stadium introduced the eight-strong field on the pink track to a bedazzled audience, Coleman was quickly in business, taking the lead almost out of the blocks with compatriot and defending champion Justin Gatlin in pursuit.
Halfway through, however, one knew that there was no catching the 23-year-old, who swapped places with Gatlin from the 2017 London Worlds for a fantastic victory in a world leading time of 9.76 seconds, which is also the sixth fastest time in history.
Canadian Andre de Grasse made a fantastic comeback from an injury that had plagued him at the Rio Games for a bronze in 9.90 seconds.
“I have been blessed with incredible talent and tonight I was able to show it. Being able to come and compete here and run in this race is a dream,” an ecstatic Coleman said. “I have been working incredibly hard and this just makes it all worthwhile.
“At the end, all my worries just evaporated out there. It was a crazy feeling. To add my name to the list of the legendary guys who have come before me is an honour and a blessing.
“Justin Gatlin is a great guy and a great competitor. He has always been there. I remember watching him back in 2004 when I was eight years old and to think all these years later I could come and win gold too is a great feeling.”
Veteran Gatlin was all praise for his younger compatriot even as he felt good about his achievement. “This season is a testament to my endurance and will power because I have had so many knick knacks. Even in warm up I was feeling knee niggling,” he said.
“But I managed to get out and run 9.89 and get a silver medal. Christian has had a spectacular season and I knew he would be tough to beat.”
But Gatlin did add an asterisk too. “He ran a great race but I have a message for next year – I’m coming. He’d better be ready.”
For De Grasse, the bronze was an encouraging sign. He said: “I am grateful to get myself back on the podium. I thought I could do a little bit better, but I can’t dwell too much as I have to get ready for the 200m tomorrow.
“In the last couple of years, I have been trying to keep my mind positive and telling myself that I can come back and be back where I was and even better. Definitely today was a good sign. I had a personal best. I will take it.”
African champion Akani Simbine and Jamaican Yohan Blake rounded the top five with 9.93 and 9.97 efforts respectively.