Usain Bolt of Jamaica, right standing, and Justin Gatlin of the US react after their men's 100m final during the World Athletics Championships at the London Stadium, London, Britain, Aug 5, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

"I tuned it out (the boos) through the rounds and stayed the course. I did what I had to do," said Gatlin, who served a four-year ban from 2006 for a second doping offence - which he always denied.

"The people who love me are here cheering for me and cheering at home.

"It is Bolt's last race and he's the man so it's not about beating him. I have had many victories and many defeats down the years, he's pushed and inspired me to be the athlete I am today.

"It's surreal really to come across the line first - it's still his night.

"We are rivals on the track but in the warm-down area we joke and have a good time. The first thing he did was congratulate me and say that I didn't deserve the boos. He is an inspiration."

China's Su Bingtian, who became the first Chinese to run a 100m final in the World Championships two years ago in Beijing, finished the eighth with 10.27 seconds after booking a berth as the lucky third finisher in heat 2 in 10.10.

Reuters/Xinhua