Usain Bolt won the men's 200m in emphatic style yesterday, earning his title as the world's greatest ever sprinter.

The 25-year-old Jamaican powered home in 19.32 seconds, just a fraction outside the Olympic record of 19.30 - and he raised the roof on the Olympic Stadium by dropping to the track and celebrating by doing press-ups.

Yohan Blake and Warren Weir made it a Jamaica one-two-three. American Wallace Spearmon came fourth.

Having repeated his feat from Beijing, Bolt is the only man to have won both the 100m and 200m at two successive Olympics.

Bolt was pushed all the way by Blake, his friend and training partner, who was tipped by many to outshine his mentor in London.

But Bolt got off to a blistering start and powered into a lead around the bend.

In the final 100m it looked as if Blake was closing him down, but Bolt found and extra push and cruised over the line.

American 400m world record holder Michael Johnson said: 'Blake found after the start that Bolt was already gone. He displayed some speed endurance that I haven't seen before. He looked at the clock, realised that he was not on world record pace and decided to celebrate a little bit early!'

Bolt celebrated by kissing the track, hugging spectators, dropping and performing a set of press-ups and striking his lightning pose, before embracing compatriots Blake and Weir - who secured silver and bronze.

He then told the BBC: "This is what I wanted and I got it. I'm very proud of myself. I had a rough season, I came out here and I did what I had to do.

'We've been working hard all season. We pushed ourselves, we pushed each other and we're happy."

Asked if he could have had a world record, Bolt added: "I think it was possible...but I guess I wasn't fit enough. I was fast but I wasn't fit enough.

'I came off the corner, I could feel the strain on my back a little bit so I was trying to keep my form, but

I stopped running because I knew it wasn't going to be a world record. When I came off the corner I could feel it.

'It was hard. I really dedicated [myself] to my work, I know what London meant to me. I came here and I gave it my all and I'm proud of myself.

'I didn't get a world record - I really wanted to do it in the 200m - but I'm happy.'

Third-placed Weir added: "It's a great honour to come here and do what the country wanted, to get the top three.

'The love in London is very, very good."

Bolt broke both 100m and 200m world records in Beijing.

He failed to better his record of 9.58 seconds in the 100m final, but predicted a fast time tonight.

After cruising to victory in last night's semi-final he said: 'There's a possibility (of a record), definitely.

'I can't say (for sure), but the track is fast. It's going to be a good race.'

Both Bolt and Blake qualified comfortably from yesterday's semi-finals.

Blake registered the fastest time from the two heats. Bolt had to settle for fifth after slowing down to a canter as he crossed the line, light years ahead of the rest of the field.

The two men are fierce rivals on the track. Off the track, they're friends and even training partners - Bolt acting as a mentor to the 20-year-old.

He's even given Blake a nickname: 'The beast.'

The mentor/protege relationship was shaken when Blake pipped Bolt to first place in the Jamaican trials.

But Bolt returned to form in time for the 100m final in London, soundly beating his compatriot, who was forced to settle for a silver medal.

Blake speaks fondly of his friendship with Bolt, but insisted they both left their relationship in the locker room when they stepped out into the stadium tonight.

He said: 'When I train I train like a beast. That's why Usain gave me the name. Off the track it's different. He is a calm guy. We are always friends.

'We always have fun, joke around. On the day it's all business, each man for himself. Win or lose we are going to be friends. I try not to build up a rivalry because at the end of the day it's just a race. If you focus on a rivalry you might not get the work done.'