Helsinki, Finland — The Americans are taking Helsinki by storm, and Justin Gatlin is the whirlwind leading the way.
Gatlin joined Maurice Greene as the only athletes to sweep the 100 and 200 at the world track and field championships. The 23-year-old sprinter, who outran children racing him on bicycles as a child on the streets of Brooklyn, led an unprecedented 1-2-3-4 U.S. finish in the 200 meters on a damp, chilly Thursday night.
"Double gold," Gatlin said. "I think I've sealed my fate right now as the king of sprints."
Two other Americans took home gold - a surprise victory for Walter Davis in the triple jump and Michelle Perry in the 100-meter hurdles. Brad Walker added a silver behind winner Rens Blom of the Netherlands in the pole vault.
The powerhouse performance gave the United States 15 medals, seven more than second-place Russia. The Americans have nine golds. No other country has more than two.
Justin Gatlin of the U.S., right, hugs bronze medalist John Capel on Thursday after the men's 200 final at the world track and field championships in Helsinki, Finland. Gatlin won in a time of 20.04 seconds.
The Americans had four entries in the 200 because John Capel had an automatic berth as defending champion. Gatlin, with his incredible long stride, pulled away down the stretch to win in 20.04 seconds. Wallace Spearmon was second at 20.20, and Capel third at 20.31, just ahead of Tyson Gay's 20.34.
"I think I'm in shock and awe more than anybody else right now," Gatlin said.
When the race was over, the four huddled together to pray, then paraded with American flags. Gatlin also waved a Finnish flag, a display of thanks for the fans' enthusiastic support.
Gatlin was the only one of the four Americans who had run in the 100. Counting the preliminaries, the 200 final was his eighth race in six days, with the 400-meter relay still to go.
"He's amazing," Spearmon said. "He's a beast."
Greene won the 100, 200 and was part of the gold medal-winning 400 relay at the 1999 worlds.
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