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Justin Gatlin shoveled the snow off his track in North Carolina, braving the cold to keep practicing, keep working, and keep chasing Olympic gold. He finally caught it Sunday night, outrunning the fastest field in Olympic history to become the youngest 100-meter champion in 36 years, Shenzhen Daily reported Tuesday.

Gatlin ran a personal best 9.85 seconds, barely holding off Portugal's Francis Obikwelu, defending gold medallist Maurice Greene, outspoken teammate Shawn Crawford and Jamaica's Asafa Powell.

It was the first time in Olympic history that five men broke 10 seconds in a race. Four did it at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Obikwelu finished in 9.86 for silver. Greene took bronze in 9.87 and Crawford was fourth in 9.89.

"I said it was going to be the most exciting race in the world, and it was," said Gatlin, a 22-year-old Brooklyn, New York native who now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Crawford got off to a bad start and never was a factor. With no clear leader as the race drew to a close, Gatlin took control near the very end, shedding a few tears after he crossed the finish line, then dropping to his knees and clasping his hands in prayer.

As for Greene, it was another valiant effort in a resurrected career for the three-time world champion. After breaking his leg in a motorcycle crash two years ago, some thought he would never regain the form that propelled him to Olympic gold in 2000.

Even after failing to become the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 and 1988 to win back-to-back Olympic 100s, the ever-confident Greene said he's still the greatest sprinter of all time.

Powell, who had the second-fastest time this season in 9.91, finished fifth in 9.94 after stumbling from the blocks.

Gatlin, who won six NCAA titles in his two seasons at Tennessee, is the youngest winner since Jim Hines at the 1968 Mexico City Games. Gatlin turned 22 on Feb. 10; Hines had just turned 22 when he won.

Gatlin also has had problems with drugs.

He tested positive for an amphetamine at the 2001 U.S. junior championships. The drug was contained in prescription medication Gatlin had been taking for 10 years to treat a form of attention deficit disorder.

The International Association of Athletics Federations gave him early reinstatement from a two-year ban in July 2002. But the IAAF said a second violation would lead to a life ban.

His mother, Jeanette Gatlin, said he just told her one day he didn't need the medication anymore.

"He said 'I can concentrate and focus' and obviously it is the running track he can concentrate and focus on," she said. "So we just took him at his word."

Editor: Lu Ziqing