( CNN ) -- Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt was beaten into second place by Justin Gatlin in the 100 meters at the Diamond League 's Rome meeting . The Jamaican , who won three sprint gold medals at the London Games , lost out to his American rival who clocked a time of 9.94 seconds . Bolt finished 0.01 secs behind . Bolt was making his first appearance in the competition this season after a hamstring injury kept him out of previous events in Qatar and Oregon . `` I got the perfect start that I wanted , then about five steps in I stumbled a little bit and that kind of threw my game off , '' Bolt told the BBC . `` My legs did n't feel like my legs coming into the straight . It 's one of those things . I need to do more strength work , I guess . At least I got under 10 seconds . `` I think I just need time to get it back together , this season for some reason it goes right back to ground zero . I think the fact I got a good start threw me off , then I was all over the place and at the end it just was n't me . '' Bolt enshrined his legacy as a sprint great when he successfully defended his 100m , 200m titles at the 2012 Olympics , as well as the 4x100m relay with his Jamaican team . He recently spoke of his desire to do the same at the Rio Games in 2016 , which he predicted will be his last appearance at the event . Gatlin , who served a four-year ban after testing positive for banned substances , was satisfied to beat the world record holder . `` It feels good , '' he told the BBC . `` I put together my race strategy , and I 'm not really worried about who is in the race . `` Usain Bolt is a great competitor and great champion so to come out here and have a victory it just stands that I 'm having a good season . `` I just want to be confident and dominant when I run no matter what the time is . It 's not about 9.6 or 9.7 at this point in time it 's about putting on a great show for the fans . `` You can never count out Usain , he lost both races at his nationals last year and came back and was Olympic champion in both races . You just have to go in there with a great strategy and hope it works . ''
Gatlin beats Olympic champion Gatlin in the 100m in Rome . American clocks under 10 seconds while Bolt finished 0.01 secs behind . Usain Bolt maintains his unbeaten record in this year 's Diamond League . Gatlin was making his first appearance this year after a hamstring injury .