By: Getty Images Usain Bolt of Jamaica savors his first Olympic gold medal and a new world record in the 100 meters.

Jamaican Usain Bolt continued his strong recent stretch of commanding runs, winning the gold medal in the men's 100m dash Saturday night while setting world and Olympic records at 9.69.

Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago finished second in 9.89 and American Walter Dix earned the bronze in 9.91. Both runners ran personal bests.

Former world record holder Asafa Powell finished in 9.95. The other American in the final, Darvis Patton, finished eighth in 10.03.

A self-titled 200m specialist, Bolt only recently started running the 100m. He begged his coach to try it and worked several months before this season on his start. When he originally took the world record in May with a 9.72 in New York, it was just his fifth time racing the event.

The man missing from everyone's dream final was Tyson Gay of the United States, who finished fifth in his semifinal and did not qualify.

For Gay, the Olympics was his first competition since falling injured in a 200m race at U.S. Trials. He said his leg was not injured in Beijing, but his fitness may not have been peaking.

Bolt is the first Jamaican to win gold in the 100m. In previous Games, the country has captured silver three times: Herb McKenley in 1952, Lennox Miller in 1976 and Donald Quarrie in 1976.

Bolt is also entered in the 200 meters. First round heats in the event begin Monday.