Usain Bolt marked his return from injury by winning the 200 metres at the London Diamond League meet in his final race before heading to Rio in search of three more Olympic titles.
The world’s fastest man ran 19.89 seconds on Friday (Saturday AEST) at the Olympic Stadium he left with three golds four years ago during the London Games.
It was Bolt’s first race since pulling out of the Jamaican Olympic trials earlier this month with a hamstring injury.
Bolt rarely has anything to prove to anyone.
But the six-time Olympic champion had to show in London that he hasn’t been slowed by the hamstring problem.
In his first 200-metre race of the season, the world’s fastest man ran 19.89 seconds at the Olympic Stadium he left with three golds four years ago during the London Games.
“I’m not fully in shape. I need more work but over time I will be fine,” Bolt said.
“I could feel the rust. The execution I think up there wasn’t perfect but it was my first run so I can’t complain.”
The only complaints Bolt had were targeted at American rivals who had lightly suggested – not strongly – that he got preferential treatment by being allowed to skip the Jamaican trials.
“I felt it was a joke,” Bolt said.
“I felt it was a disrespect the fact they think I’d back out of a trials. Me, Usain Bolt who has proven myself year (after) year that I’m the greatest.
“I laughed when I heard it. I was disappointed, especially in Justin Gatlin.”
spruce moose
Guest
Jamaica changed their system since Dorrice Bannock, Yul Brenner and Junior Bevil fell over in the 1988 trials.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Sorry, but Gatlin has no point (if he said that). USA has its qualification method. It is cut throat. Top 3 across the line, no exceptions. It has resulted in the ridiculous situation of someone missing out who then broke the world record yesterday (women's hurdles). Jamaica has its system - top 2 at their trials are through and 3rd position is discretionary. Frankly, USA should do the same. Who is Gatlin or anyone else to tell the Jamaica how to select its athletes?
ted kemp
Guest
Gatlin has a point. In the US trials, no matter how good you've been all year, fail and you don't go to Rio because the same failure might happen again at the Games. But no way was Jamaica going to risk Bolt false starting as he did at one of the World's. Or just having a bad day at the track. And they can back it up legally by providing a way Bolt could run at Rio. "Athletes who are ranked/listed in the top three in the world for their event who are ill or injured at the time of the national championships and are granted an exemption from competing at the championships may still be considered for selection provided that they are able to prove their world ranking form prior to the final submission of the entries for the competition." Bolt did that by running 19.89 in the 200 in London on Friday. There'll be a whole raft of fine sprinters to challenge him in Rio. It's gonna be close.