Usain Bolt remains on course for an unprecedented triple-triple, after the seven-time Olympic champion ran 20.28 seconds to win his 200m heat at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday (16 August). If he advances from those semis, he would race in the final on Thursday night for his eighth Olympic gold medal.
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“I was nervous because the 200m is my favourite event”.
“I hate the mornings so I am happy to have this out the way”.
Bolt, the world record holder for the 200m with a time of 19.19, will be joined by two of his countrymen in the semis.
Bolt, who won the 100-meter dash on Sunday, looked comfortable running in lane five of the second-to-last heat of the morning at the Maracana. Bolt admitted to some anxiety ahead of his heat.
Afterward, Gatlin, 34, said on NBC that bouncing back from the 100 meters semifinals and final on Sunday was as much mental as physical.
Gatlin and De Grasse moved through to the semi-finals without any trouble, clocking 20.42 and 20.09 in their heats respectively.
The main challenge to Bolt’s 200m crown is likely to come from the American pair of Justin Gatlin and LaShawn Merritt, who both made it through the first round with little concern, while Canada’s 100m bronze medallist Andre de Grasse was the fastest qualifier in 20.09sec.
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The 200 final is set for 9:30 p.m. ET Thursday. They’ve got more recovery time for the 200 semifinals, which are scheduled for 9 p.m. ET Wednesday.
