Here was one of their own, who was considered one of the fastest in the game, and he had no chance of keeping up with Bolt and others.
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That would be Bolt’s winning time on the night, and in the post-race press conference, the Jamaican giant griped about the hectic schedule facing the sprinters this week.
D’Agostino got to her feet first, but rather than race on, she stopped to help her rival up.
Bolt has said that he’s planning to hang up his running shoes for good soon. National Football League players are clearly fast, but they’re like everyone else when it comes to the Jamaican sprinter: They’re just watching in awe.
“I’m going to go out there and leave it all on the track”.
It seems unthinkable that the 100-meter title – the jewel in the Summer Games crown – could be considered a mere stepping stone on the way to something bigger.
He blamed the brutal schedule, which left little recovery time between the 100m semi-finals and final, for the slow winning time of 9.81s in the blue-riband event, but said the fact the 200m timetable was easier would aid his bid to make history again in his favourite event.
The 21-year-old Markham, Ont., runner, who won a bronze in the marquee 100 metres on Sunday night, was first in his heat in 20.09 seconds, the best time of the day. I am not anxious about that but I am really proud of him because when he came to Jamaica I said to him, “Listen, you are the only person that I think can break this 400m world record”.
Already assured of his legend status, Bolt also added to his reputation as sport’s number-one crowd pleaser as he took a leisurely circuit of the stadium, posing for pictures and shaking a thousand hands.
Gatlin, who has twice been banned for doping, was booed relentlessly when he came out onto the track before the race.
Chris Turner of the IAAF said the tight schedule has been used in the past – most notably, at the Atlanta Games in 1996, when Donovan Bailey won gold and set a world record. “More than I’ve ever seen at any championship”. “I’ve never seen it happen before, but I guess some people are more vocal than others”. “That’s what I was focused on”. For his part, Bolt says he’s honored even by the comparison.
After Sunday’s 1-2 finish, Bolt and Gatlin complained of too quick of a turnaround from the semifinals and final in the 100 meters.
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“I knew the first round was going to be rough. Confidence-wise and fitness-wise I was on fire”. Two more medals to go and I can sign off.
