Bolt’s mid-race smile is new template for internet memes

Sprinter has been hailed for semi-final race where he cracked a smile for cameras before crossing the finishing line

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won his seventh Olympic gold in Rio, but it was his antics which set social media ablaze.

The 29-year-old captured an unprecedented third consecutive 100m crown to confirm his place in the pantheon of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, powering over the line in 9.81sec as he vanquished American rival Justin Gatlin who took silver along with Andre de Grasse of Canada who claimed bronze.



However, the sprinter has been hailed not for his final race, but for the semi-final where he cruised home in 9.86sec and cracked a smile for the cameras before crossing the finishing line:

https://twitter.com/jchaltiwanger/status/764986483476312064

https://twitter.com/AlanHungover/status/765306576450285568

When you're on another level & know you're the the fastest man on the planet. 😎👌🏼 #Bolt pic.twitter.com/kENnSabMfq

— WE RIDE BIKES. (@KrancLife) August 15, 2016

Everyone's trying to become famous while Bolt is posing for pics. pic.twitter.com/QqiJD31RjA

— Clevis Murray (@ClevisMurray) August 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/Sloopjb619/status/765020328825282561



And soon, internet memes also followed:

https://twitter.com/sporker_/status/764991901535797249

When #USAINBOLT Misses the Bus! - Hilarious MEMES #Bolt #Rio https://t.co/NEslYKrf7K pic.twitter.com/bbBcH6YSDX

— StarAt21 Magazine (@starat21) August 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/Anumm_R/status/765312487344467969

lmao these #Bolt memes 😹😹😹😹 pic.twitter.com/s3ttcWSrbr

— the wizard. (@sergiodeartist) August 15, 2016

The victory left Bolt standing alone in the 120-year history of sprinting in the modern Olympic Games.

No other athlete — man or woman — has ever won three consecutive individual Olympic sprint titles.

It also leaves Bolt on track to complete an incredible “triple-triple” of clinching 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles for a third consecutive Olympics.

“Somebody said I can become immortal. Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal,” said Bolt after the final race.

This article initially appeared on Time