Tyson Gay has beaten Usain Bolt over 100m for the first time at a Diamond League meeting in Stockholm.

Gay won in a relatively modest time of 9.84secs, with Bolt over a metre behind in 9.96secs. Both men made good starts, but from 20m into the race, Gay had established a clear lead of around a metre, and Bolt never looked capable of making up the deficit. The Jamaican swerved from one side of his lane to the other in a poor run that proved he was some way short of peak fitness and form.

The start of the race was disrupted by two faulty starts as the runners were forced to leave their blocks and restart their routine and Bolt, the triple Olympic champion, admitted this was a distraction. Bolt also suffered a calf injury in May, but he refused to blame his preparation, saying Gay was the better man on the day.

"It's just one of those days for me today," Bolt told the BBC. "I got a good start but there was no power. But I was ready, I was focused."

In reference to the faulty starts, he said: "It kind of gets annoying, but I can't blame that, he (Gay) was ready, he was in better shape than me."

Gay was equally gracious in victory. "I know what his limitations are, it's his off-year, and I know he has a lot more left in the tank," he said, adding that his aim now was to beat Bolt when both men were in top form.