Jamaica's 25-year-old sprinter Usain Bolt set a new world record at the Olympic Games. Bolt bests this season with a 9.76 seconds in the 100-meter race at the Golden Gala on Thursday, May 31st. Though he raced s relatively slow 10.04 in Ostrava last week, he managed to best his previous world record of 9.82 that was set at his home in Jamaica this week.

"My drive was better and I started well," Usain Bolt said after setting a season's-best time. "The transition was also better. After Ostrava [where he ran a relatively slow 10.04 last week] a lot of people questioned me, but I never questioned myself."

Former world record-holder Asafa Powell crossed second in 9.91 and European champion Christophe Lemaitre was third in 10.04. The crowd of nearly 60,000 cheered Bolt's every move.

"I appreciate a great crowd, they gave me a lot of love," Bolt said. "I feed off the crowd, so that was good." When he came back out to run, Bolt chatted with the race worker behind his lane before he stepped into the starting blocks. After the race, he grabbed an Italian flag as he celebrated with another lap around the track that hosted the 1960 Olympics.

"Since I arrived in Rome I made sure to be in in bed early. So I got a lot of rest and slept a lot," Bolt said. "In Ostrava I had not had enough sleep. This race was much better."

This was the third Diamond League meet of the year but Bolt's first. Bolt will also compete in a Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway, next week before returning to Jamaica for national trials. He then plans to return to Europe for a 200 in Monaco on July 20, his last race before the London Games start a week later.