But there was a massive surprise in the final semi as America’s Justin Gatlin and Bolt’s team-mate Yohan Blake both crashed out.
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After completing a sprint double at the Olympics with an overpowering performance in the 200 meters on Wednesday, Thompson is now one small step ahead of Bolt, who will try to clinch his double on Thursday.
Also qualifying for the final are Panama’s Alonso Edward, Briton Adam Gemeili, Azerbai-born Turk Ramil Guliyev and European champion Churandy Martina of the Netherlands. “I always get tripped up or tangled up with someone”, Farah said. “It just flared up on me this week”. “I’m on the right track”. I tried to hold on as long as I could.
“I’m happy to still be here (for the relays)”, he told reporters. “I can’t run properly and I had a tight turn in lane three”, was his explanation.
The biggest drama about Usain Bolt in the 200 meter sprint Thursday may not be whether he wins, but whether he cracks the once-thought-untouchable 19-second barrier.
This video shows the moment Bolt, who won the semi-final in a year’s fastest time of19.78 seconds, laughing and chatting to Canada’s Andre Grasse over the the last 20m. After capturing silver in the 100, the main challenger to Bolt over the past two years didn’t qualify for the 200 final.
Earlier this week, popular television host, comedian, actress, writer and producer Ellen DeGeneres found herself at the center of a controversy after sharing an insensitive meme featuring herself on the back of Olympic sprinter Usain St. Leo Bolt on social media.
“Ten or 15 years ago I couldn’t imagine that my first Olympic Games would be like this”, said a disappointed Klishina who won a world sports tribunal appeal against a late IAAF doping ban on her competing in Rio. “It’s an honor to be on the team”.
“Probably, I should have rested it instead of running on it”, said Gatlin, who finished second to Bolt in the 100. “I need to run efficiently and get into the straight and run the ideal race”, Bolt said. American athlete Ashton Eaton is now leading the standings entering Day 2 of the two-day decathlon competition as he looks to defend his gold medal.
“I know Dafne is a strong finisher so I knew I had to have a strong finish as well, just keep my composure and execute straight to the line”, Thompson said. “I need to run efficiently and get into the straight and run the ideal race”.
Gatlin tweaked his ankle in training way back at the beginning of the season but, ironically, really aggravated the problem about a week later doing a TV commercial for the Olympics. “Tomorrow is what matters the most”.
Bolt looked to be cruising to an easy win in his semifinal before being pushed at the end by De Grasse. “It’s a semifinal.’ But I think he wanted to push me”.
American Ameer Webb, who also trains with Altis in Phoenix, was 19th in the semifinals in 20.43.
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The best part, they say, was realizing what their fellow Americans were up to and feeding off that excitement. I’m in a lot better shape than 20.08.
