Usain Bolt has bowed out of the Olympic Games with his ninth gold medal, storming home to give Jamaica victory in a thrilling men’s 4x100m relay on Saturday.

Silver medallists Japan were right in the mix at the 300m mark, meaning Bolt needed to lift – one final time – at Olympic level.

And he had no problems doing so, producing his trademark speed in an awesome display of power as Jamaica won in 37.27 seconds.

Japan (37.60secs) held on for second ahead of a fast-finishing United States (37.62secs), but the US was later disqualified – with Canada (37.64secs) taking their bronze instead.

Bolt takes control. Photo: Getty

But the moment belonged to Bolt, who claimed the sprint triple (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay) at a third successive Olympic Games.

The Jamaican, who turns 30 on Sunday, has never lost an Olympic final he has competed in.

Japan, who set an Asian record in the semi-finals, started brightly and the United States also loomed large.

But smooth changes between Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake, and then Blake and Nickel Ashmeade, kept Jamaica firmly in contention.

When Ashmeade handed the baton to Bolt for the final 100m, there was still plenty of work to do.

The trademark celebration. Photo: Getty

Bolt didn’t mind, though, slipping through the gears to see off Japan and cement his status as the greatest sprinter of all time.

China (37.90secs) was elevated to fourth, while Great Britain (37.98secs) and Brazil (38.41secs) were fifth and sixth respectively.

Trinidad & Tobago – like the US – were disqualified.

United States win women’s relay

Jamaica had to settle for silver in the women’s edition of the 4x100m race, with the United States team – spearheaded by Allyson Felix and Tori Bowie – claiming gold.

Bowie was particularly impressive, storming to the end as the United States finished in 41.01 seconds.

Bowie bolts to the finish line. Photo: Getty

Despite Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s best efforts in the last 100m, Jamaica (41.36secs) was second, while Great Britain (41.77secs) was third.

Germany (42.10secs) just edged out Trinidad & Tobago (42.12secs) for fourth.