“My coach told me to race him to the line, try and tire him for tomorrow’s final”, De Grasse told reporters.
Advertisement
Gatlin won silver behind Bolt in the 100, but looked uncomfortable throughout his race.
“The boys are having a ton of fun out there – I really enjoyed that”, he said. I was really disappointed seeing that. Bolt – the highlight man – of the races has a best relay split of 8.7 seconds which is quicker than his individual record in 100m and Powell achieved the split in a staggering 8.68 seconds at the Beijing Olympics.
“I think he wanted to push me”. “I’ve always focused on that”. I was a bit lazy but I got round. Big question: Did pushing Bolt for a relatively meaningless semifinal placing actually sap any strength from the champion?
He said that before the competition at Olympic Stadium began. “It’s the best atmosphere I’ve played in”.
Oduduru (R) who went viral off an interview given after winning gold at the 2015 African Junior Championships, finished second in Heat 9 behind Jamaica’s Usain Bolt in a time of 20.34 seconds to enter men’s 200m semi-finals. “I definitely feel that”.
“But now, it’s executing right, running the corner efficiently and coming in the straight and running the ideal race”, he said.
Diver Tonia Couch will have history on her mind when she goes in the 10m platform semi-finals, and later hopefully the final as no British female has won a diving medal at the Olympics since 1960. “I don’t have time to watch the race”. Badminton singles hopeful Rajiv Ouseph, meanwhile, lost his last-eight tie against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in straight sets and Liam Phillips finished 10th fastest in the BMX time-trial run that determined seedings for the quarter-finals. With no Gatlin and Yohan Blake to contest, the likes of Christophe Lemaitre, Andre De Grasse and LaShawn Merritt will be vying for the remaining medals.
His main goal during the opening rounds is to conserve energy, which is exactly what he was doing when he looked to his right, saw Canada’s Andre de Grasse a few steps behind and put it on cruise control. In 2008, he beat Michael Johnson’s seemingly unbreakable Olympic record with a time of 19.30 seconds. Most Olympic sprinters coast to the finish line if they know they’re guaranteed to progress to the next round.
“He was supposed to slow down”, Bolt told reporters.
Despite the trivial nature of his finish in the 200m semi-final, Bolt added that he was looking forward to the competition De Grasse offered in tonight’s final.
“My body felt good”, said the former world and Olympic 400m champion, who took a bronze in the 400 in Rio.
DeGrasse might’ve been sending a lighthearted message that Bolt can’t sleep-walk his way to the gold medal Thursday night.
This is assuming, of course, that Bolt is even physically capable of the record. Britain’s fastest woman, 20-year-old Dina Asher-Smith, came fifth. Bowie said. “Now, I have two”. “I guess hard work pays off”. “I just don’t know what this kid’s limits are”.
Advertisement
No, Bolt didn’t want to set any personal records in the semifinals, but it sure set the stage for what promises to be a memorable – maybe historic – final.
