RIO DE JANEIRO - Slow out of the blocks? Doesn't matter if you're Usain Bolt.
The Jamaican caught Justin Gatlin, who did have a strong start and led for half the race, to his record third-straight men's 100-meter final Sunday night.
Bolt, who gave himself a fist bump on the chest just before crossing the line, finished in 9.81. He was followed by Gatlin (9.89) and Canada's Andre De Grasse (9.91).
This is the third time Gatlin has finished second to Bolt. The previous two times were at the 2013 and 2015 world championships.
The 29-year-old Bolt, whose reaction time of 0.155 was second-slowest of the eight finalists, is the second-oldest 100 champion in Olympic history (Linford Christie was 32 in 1992).
Bolt came into the Olympics not having run a 100 since June 30, when he pulled out of Jamaican national championships with a bad left hamstring.
The rehab began immediately, and on a muggy Sunday night in Rio, the shining star of track and field showed no signs of distress.
After a typically clunky burst out of the starting block, he started pulling away from Gatlin with about 30 meters left. He's not done. Qualifying for the men's 200, his favorite race, starts Tuesday, with the relay on Friday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.