Justin Gatlin defeated the 30-year-old Jamaican in a time of 9.92 seconds to win the men's 100-metre final at the IAAF track and field championships on Saturday in London.
The 30-year-old Jamaican had been given a scare ahead of his last ever major championship appearance in an individual event, with American Christian Coleman beating him into second place in the semi-finals.
And Bolt was unable to raise his level for the final, finishing third as 35-year-old Gatlin produced a season’s best to claim victory in London.
Bolt, who retires after next week’s 4x100m relay, had no answer and was third behind Gatlin, who clocked 9.92 seconds, and Christian Coleman (9.94).