“I thought he would have made it”. But I could tell in the 100m he was feeling the pain and he was slowing down.
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One of Bolt’s main rivals, American Justin Gatlin, who took silver in the 100 metres, will not be in the race on Thursday.
“It’s been flaring up this season. But I don’t get over-confident”, said Bolt, who has said this will be his final Olympics.
“I’m just glad I was able to walk off the track without a real harmful injury and be able to rest myself, get the treatment I need for my ankle and come out here and help my teammates in the 4x100m relay”. “I can’t run properly and I had a tight turn in lane three”, was his explanation. I’m in a lot better shape than 20.08.
He has consistently stated that he is going after his 200m world record of 19.19 here.
“I definitely think I can try for the world record”, said the sprinter, whose current record in the 200 stands at 19.19 seconds. “But now, it’s executing right, running the corner efficiently, and coming in the straight and running the ideal race”.
“I remember that I still have to run and execute right, so I’m focused on getting it done”. “I was a bit lazy but I got round”, said Bolt, who is aiming to win his third triple batch of Olympic gold medals in Rio.
“But that’s a good thing I suppose that I’m not satisfied with that and I will go and push on”. “I said, ‘What are you doing? I guess hard work pays off”.
Bolt became the first man to win three straight Olympic 100m titles on Sunday by beating Gatlin by eight hundredths of a second, with De Grasse taking bronze.
Gatlin looked uncomfortable throughout his race.
The excitement behind him centered on Evan Jager of the United States clinching silver ahead of four-time world champion Kemboi, who was later disqualified for stepping off the track after a water jump.
Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin finished 1-2-3 in the 100-meter hurdles to give the United States its first sweep in the event, its seventh in the history of Olympic track and the 23rd for USA women, regardless of sport, over the history of the Summer Games.
He said he rolled an ankle in the run-up to the Olympics and was happy just to make it here. It’s been an honour to come out here. “Someone like Kim Collins give me inspiration for Tokyo!”
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Britain’s Adam Gemili also went through as a fastest loser after running 20.08 sec behind Bolt and De Grasse but Danny Talbot and Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake, who both ran 20.25 sec in their semi-finals failed to make it.
