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).
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Racing in the ninth heat and cheered every step of the way by the sparse but vocal crowd, the Jamaican led coming off the bend and was able to take his foot off the gas to progress comfortably to Wednesday’s semi-finals.
Bolt is halfway through what may be the final chapter of a historic Olympic “triple-double” in the men’s sprints, as he hopes to add the 200m gold to the 100m crown for the third consecutive Games.
“I hate morning heats so I’m happy to get this out of the way”, Bolt said. It’s a good start and I’m happy”.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow (semi-finals)”.
He blamed the brutal schedule, which left little recovery time between the 100m semi-finals and final, for the slow winning time of 9.81s in the blue-riband event, but said the fact the 200m timetable was easier would aid his bid to make history again in his favourite event.
Bolt’s major rivals, including Justin Gatlin, made it through safely along with all three British competitors: team captain Adam Gemili clocked 20.20, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake 20.24, while Danny Talbot equalled his personal best of 20.27.
Canada’s Andre de Gasse, bronze medalist in the 100, ran the quickest time of the session, clocking 20.09 to cross first in the final heat.
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“I didn’t really run that hard”.
