What was Usain Bolt's time in the 2009 World Championships 200m final?

Usain Bolt’s time in the 2009 World Championships 200m final was 19.19 seconds. He ran the race on 20 August 2009 at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, just four days after setting the 100m world record in 9.58 seconds.

Bolt entered the final as the Olympic champion and world-record holder. He accelerated through the bend, emerged with a clear lead, and pulled farther ahead in the straight. His 19.19 lowered his own previous world record of 19.30, set when he won the 200m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The performance was extraordinary because Bolt won by 0.62 seconds over Panama’s Alonso Edward, who ran 19.81. American Wallace Spearmon finished third in 19.85, while four finalists broke 19.90 seconds—a rare depth of speed for one race. Bolt’s mark also became the World Championships record and remains the men’s 200m world record.

The most common confusion is with his 2008 Olympic time of 19.30 seconds. That was Bolt’s earlier record; the faster 19.19 came at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.