Christophe Lemaitre’s reaction epitomises what it’s like taking on Bolt

IT WAS a moment that epitomised what it’s like to be a world-class athlete, but in the same event as an all-time legend.

The fastest white man on earth, Christophe Lemaitre.

IT WAS a moment that epitomised what it’s like to be a world-class athlete, but in the same event as a legend.

After a nervous wait, France’s Christophe Lemaitre celebrated like he’d won the gold when he scraped into the bronze medal position in a photo finish in the 200m final.

Usain Bolt was visibly frustrated after giving his all but failing to break his own world record, even though he destroyed the field to win in 19.78 seconds.

In stark contrast, Lemaitre dropped to the floor and let out a roar of sheer ecstasy as he realised he would be standing on the Olympic dais.

After a few reflective moments, Bolt transitioned into the celebration mode the world has become accustomed to, posing, and dropping to his knees to kiss the track.

But deep down, this was not the way the great Jamaican wanted to go out.

The 26-year-old Lemaitre could never have dreamed for anything more.

Christophe Lemaitre looks up to the big screen as he awaits the result. Picture: francetv

Boom. He realises he has finished third. Picture: francetv

It starts to sink in a little more. Picture: francetv

And a little more. Picture: francetv

A quick moment to reflect. Picture: francetv

And a second dose of ecstasy. Picture: francetv

Bolt finished well ahead of Canada’s silver medallist Andre De Grasse (20.02s), the man who had the gall to push the eight-time gold medallist in their semi-final a day earlier.

Third was a three-way photo finish where Lemaitre (20.12s) was judged to have edged Britain’s Adam Gemili (20.12s) and Churandy Martina (20.13s) of the Netherlands.

Officially, there was three-thousandths of a second between Lemaitre and Gemili.

Lemaitre, second from bottom, narrowly takes the bronze.

Speaking immediately after his bronze medal finish, Lemaitre made his expectations going into the race clear: last place was not an option.

“This medal is the most beautiful,” Lemaitre told francetv.

“These last two years were very hard in terms of results, injuries, performances. It’s a new me who has risen. It’s a resurrection.

“It was a very hard race, I went too hard too early and I thought that was going to cost me dearly.

“But in the end that allowed me to get past Churandy Martina and Adam Gemili.

“It was really tight, there was a lot of competition. But my semi-final gave me confidence, I knew I had the ability to get on the podium.

“All the work that I’ve done has paid off in this moment.”

Regarded as the fastest white man on earth, Lemaitre could still only take a back seat to the incomparable Bolt, who could not help but take a shot at his rivals.

Bolt claimed he could have potentially broken his own world record of 19.19 seconds if only the field had pushed him harder.

Usain Bolt basically said he could've ran faster if there was somebody in the field that could have pushed him... He's that good 😂 #Rio2016

— Anthony Becht (@Anthony_Becht) August 19, 2016

“I have proven to the world over and over again that I am the greatest. That is all I can do,” Bolt told Channel 7.

“I really wanted to race faster, but I came out here to win and that’s the first thing. I’m happy about that.

“Just coming back from injury and staying focused, I think that’s been the hardest part and I’ve got it done so I’m proud of that.”

The 29-year-old Bolt then took a parting shot at the up and comers.

“I keep telling these young ones, ‘I’ll never let you guys beat me, it’s never going to happen.’”

For Lemaitre, bronze will do just fine.