Rudisha’s one minute 40.91 seconds set a new benchmark in an event where only three other men in 36 years have set world records: Alberto Juantorena, Coe and Kipketer.
So fast was he that behind him all manner of other marks went up in smoke. There were personal bests for six of the remaining seven, five went under 1:43, while every single man ran the fastest ever time for their placing in history.
Silver medallist Nijel Amos of Botswana, just 18, equalled Coe’s legendary former world record with 1:41.73 but was almost an afterthought.
Way down in eighth place, British runner Andrew Osagie’s 1:43.77 was enough to put him fourth in the all-time UK rankings behind Coe, Steve Cram and Peter Elliott. In each of the past three Olympic finals, his time would have won him gold.
It went on and on. In fourth and fifth, Duane Solomon and Nick Symmonds became the second and third fastest Americans ever over 800m.
The splits triggered amazement: 23.4 secs for the first 200m, 25.88 secs for the second, a critical 25.02 for the third and 26.61 to bring it all home.
The statisticians and diehards cooed. The 80,000 believers who came to pay homage to Usain received their own blessing, too.
Bolt’s 19.32 not only matched Michael Johnson’s gold-medal winning world record from the Atlanta Olympics of 1996 but was the fourth fastest ever run.
Had it not been for his back tightening up midway through, his own world record of 19.19 secs may have gone. As it is, Bolt now has four of the fastest six times ever in his favourite event of all.
The on-looking Johnson was unequivocal in his praise.
“In my opinion, we have seen the two best athletes in the sport tonight,” he said afterwards. “They are complete opposites, but both great athletes and great ambassadors for the sport.”
Rudisha, too, paid tribute to a fellow sporting superstar.
