Usain Bolt (AP)

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Daegu - After opening with a false start, Usain Bolt again did the amazing in his closing race of the World Championships - anchoring Jamaica to a world record in the 4x100-meter relay.

One day after winning gold in the 200 metres, Bolt was devastating down the home stretch of the relay and threw his yellow-clad chest across the line for a time of 37.04 seconds - the only world record in nine days of competition.

There was no more of the performance anxiety that pushed him into a false start in the 100 metres, only a sheer release of power as he coasted down the stretch for an overwhelming win over France and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The United States was out of it by the last changeover, but no one could have gotten close to a Jamaican team anchored by Bolt.

Ahead of the race, Bolt was already slapping the "JAM" on his bib in pride, and in a season where he was far from his best, he came through with a world record he did not think was in him this season.

He got all the help he needed from his three team-mates - a lightning start from Nesta Carter and a good handover to Michael Frater before Jamaica's golden duo was up. Yohan Blake, the 100 metres champion in Bolt's absence, powered through the final bend, with Bolt already getting his giant stride going before he took the baton.

In the absence of the injured Powell, Bolt anchored the team for the first time in a major competition since he took the world by storm at the Beijing Olympics three years ago.

Running with the determination of a record beater, he gritted his teeth over the final metres, crossed the line and threw the glittering purple baton high in the air once he realised their three-year-old record of 37.10 was gone.

Seconds later, the showman took over again. He started dancing to the delight of the 45 000 crowd at Daegu Stadium, which had to wait until the last second to finally see a world record.

A few minutes earlier, Caster Semenya failed to defend her 800 metres title, faltering late down the finishing straight to allow Mariya Savinova of Russia get the gold.

Silver, however, was better than many expected as the South African showed glimpses of her powerful running that made her the dominating athlete over the distance two years ago.