RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Even a lumbering start couldn't slow down the world's fastest man.

Usain Bolt became the first person to win three straight Olympic 100-meter titles, blowing down the straightaway in 9.81 seconds at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.The Jamaican great defeated American rival Justin Gatlin by .08 seconds for his seventh Olympic gold medal. Andre de Grasse of Canada won the bronze."I told you guys I wanted to set myself apart from everybody else," Bolt said. "This is the Olympics that I have to do it at, so I came here focused and ready to go and it was brilliant."Bolt started pulling away from Gatlin with about 30 meters left. His electrifying kick capped an exciting Day 9 of the Rio Games that included Justin Rose winning the first Olympic golfing gold medal in 112 years with a two-stroke win over British Open champion Henrik Stenson."The reality is incredible. The reality hasn't sunk in," Rose said. "The whole week, I've been so focused. I've been so into it. I've been up for it. I've been just so determined, I suppose, to represent team GB as best as I could. And it was just the most magical week."Matt Kuchar of the United States took the bronze.American teen sensation Simone Biles added a third gold in gymnastics, capturing the women's vault title.Biles' triumph is the first in the Olympics by an American woman on vault, and her first vault title in a major international competition. It's heady territory, though Biles wasn't quite so thrilled when her feet moved just a touch on the landing of her Amanar."I just wanted to stick a vault so badly here and it didn't happen," Biles said. "I can be disappointed about that but I can't be disappointed with the gold."Bolt added the Rio gold medal to the ones he won in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. After kicking off his gold spikes, he flashed a smile and his signature pose, the Jamaican flag draping from his shoulders."It was brilliant," Bolt said. "I didn't go so fast but I'm so happy I won."Second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain beat Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina for his second consecutive Olympic singles tennis gold medal. His 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory halted the resurgent run of the 141st-ranked del Potro, who knocked off No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first round and No. 3 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals."It's been a buildup of emotions over the last 10 days or so," said Murray, who began the Rio Olympics by carrying Britain's flag in the opening ceremony, "and I'm just very happy that I got over the line tonight."Other highlights from Day 9:SUMGONG'S SIDESTEP ... Jemima Jelagat Sumgong had to evade a protester on her way to delivering Kenya's first gold in Rio, one which may have been saved by the swift intervention of security forces with a kilometer to go in the women's marathon. A man leapt over the railings waving a sign and two police motor bikes instantly cut him off.NOMADIC NEYMAR ... Brazil's men's soccer team, led by superstar Neymar, has arrived in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil played in Brasilia, Salvador and Sao Paulo. Soccer is the only competition that is played outside of the Olympic host city. Seeking its first soccer gold medal, Brazil plays Honduras in the semifinals Wednesday.WRESTLING WITH WRESTLING? ... Shinobu Ota of Japan stunned seven-time Greco-Roman world champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Hamid Soryan of Iran 5-4. The world's oldest sport has undergone major changes. Matches now feature two 3-minute periods with cumulative scoring instead of the best-of-three format.CHOPPY WATERS ... While worries about water pollution marked the run-up to the Rio Games, it was really the whipping wind that stirred up trouble during Olympic rowing. For the first time since 1996, the Olympic regatta was not held in a purpose-built lake, but a natural lagoon that left rowers exposed to the elements in new ways.JAPANESE JAMBOREE ... Kei Nishikori gave Japan its first Olympic tennis medal in 86 years, overcoming a mid-match lull to beat 2008 champion Rafael Nadal for the bronze in men's singles. Nadal leaves Brazil with a gold medal from men's doubles for Spain.