When talking earlier in the middle of the mixed zone with the written press, we noticed Bolt repeatedly glancing over his shoulder to watch Justin Gatlin’s race.
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‘Everybody knows that it will mean a lot more – actually more than the 100m, ‘ Bolt said. “Hopefully I can get my technique right and give it my best in the final”, added Bolt, who returns to the Bird’s Nest for Wednesday’s semis with the final scheduled for Thursday.
The former Olympic and world champion Michael Johnson had warned that he expected Bolt to struggle in the longer sprint event because of his lack of speed endurance work this season amid his pelvic problem, and the Jamaican partially agreed.
Bolt’s training partner, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, whom he nicknames “Captain’ on account of his dream of becoming a pilot, flew into the semi-finals with a heat win of his own in 20.13, and remains an outside bet for a medal”.
Among those who also advanced to today’s semi-finals were 16-year-old Japanese schoolboy Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, who clocked 20.35 behind Gatlin to earn the American’s respect.
“I’m always confident, man”, sniffed the six-times Olympic champion and world record-holder.
“I was trying to make sure I ran at least one-third of the race and then I shut it down”.
The defending champion, in the stadium where she won Olympic gold in 2008, said: “I wanted to come back with a win and I did”. Felix produced one of her trademark smooth runs to coast into the final of the 400 in 49.89 seconds, her top time this season.
When the stadium announcers spoke of his record nine world titles, he held up as many fingers.
Ethiopian favourite Genzebe Dibaba stormed to the women’s world 1500m title with a sumptuous display of controlled running.
Along with Rutherford’s gold, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill have also claimed world titles in Beijing, in the 10,000m and heptathlon, mirroring the trio’s feats on the same fever-pitch night at the London Olympics in 2012. Kenyan Faith Kipyegon took silver in 4:09.96 and Ethiopian-born Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan was third in 4:09.34. “He has a lot of confidence after winning the 100m and it will take a big effort from Gatlin to beat Bolt”.
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Botswana’s Isaac Makwala could grab headlines by becoming the first man from his country to win a world title after qualifying fastest for the final with a time of 44.11 seconds, while South African Wayde van Niekerk will be a dark horse.
