Coming into ’16, I’m older, I’m wiser, I just feel good.
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This arena, which had seemed so lifeless on Friday, erupted in cheers as Bolt appeared for Heat 7.
Bolt stole the show at the athletics as he glided smoothly past the field to win his opening 100m race, looking across the line at his straining competitors as he crossed the line.
The 100m final takes place on Sunday night.
Bolt, who took gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics, is aiming to keep his ideal record intact in Brazil. Rio, you can be sure, is his kind of town, though he was no less in tune with his admirers in London four years ago. “The crowd was great”.
“It wasn’t the best start”.
Gatlin, 34, who has posted the fastest time over the distance this year, said: “I know everyone’s going to bring their A-game so I’ve got to make sure I’m ready”.
“Hopefully tomorrow when I come out I’ll be feeling much better”.
Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin, the two favorites for the gold medal, made it through safely by winning their heats, as did several of the main contenders, though not all the expected semifinalists made it through.
The likeliest challenge to Bolt and Gatlin could come from the next generation of sprinters led by Trayvon Bromell of the United States and France s Jimmy Vicaut. He finished 19th overall and qualified for the semi-finals as a fastest loser. He faces stiffest competition from his compatriot Justin Gatlin in what is considered as a fight between “good versus evil” owing to Gatlin’s return from doping. There are a lot of guys running fast.
Also racing alongside Blake in the sixth heat was Great Britain’s James Ellington, who is coached by former sprinter Linford Christie.
But who do you think will be psychologically and athletically tougher when the gun goes for the final? “I praise the lord, the lord gives me everything”, she said through an interpreter when asked about the performance. It’s the culture to party. “I think I definitely have to win to prove to the world that I am the best throughout the whole of my career”. The 2000 Olympic 100m champion broke the 100m world record in 1999, becoming the first man to cover the distance in less than 9.8 seconds. That was before a vast corruption scandal stretching to the top of the IAAF, and the casting out of Russian Federation for running a state doping programme. Fittingly, the last day of the Olympics is August 21, Usain Bolt’s birthday!
Earlier this week, the US men came back from the brink of being eliminated. But Bolt is recognized worldwide, thanks to his accomplishments and a colorful disposition reminiscent at times of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
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While competitions are wrapping up in swimming and rowing, they’re just heating up in track and field, which will award five golds: for the women’s 100 meters and the heptathlon, and the men’s 10,000 meters, discus and long jump. “Without him it will be really boring”.
