The 29-year-old did it in style, crossing the line in 19.78 seconds ahead of Canadian Andre De Grasse (20.02) and Frenchman Christoph Lematre (20.12).

The charismatic Jamaican took gold in the 100m earlier in the week, his third successive Olympic victory in that event.

Bolt was the first man to win successive Olympic gold medals in the 100m and 200m after wins in Beijing and London, with his latest instalments at Rio taking his feats to heights that will likely never be repeated. 

“In 100 years people will say he won the 100m three times, he won the 200m three times and possibly the 4 x 100m three times, how good was he?,” Bruce McAvaney said in his call for Channel Seven.

“We feel like we have been kissed by a ray of sunshine on a pretty damp night in Rio.”

Bolt has now won eight Olympic gold medals and is still yet to contest the 4 x 100m relay.