The previous record of 19.32 seconds was set by American Michael Johnson in the 1996 Olympic Games.

The 21-year-old had already broken the 100m world mark in the Games when he became the fastest man in the world in 9.69 seconds.

Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles got the silver in 19.82 seconds and Shawn Crawford of the United States won the bronze in 19.96 seconds.