“I haven’t really focused on the boos, you have to dial that kind of stuff out”, said the American, who had been looking to become the oldest man to win the Olympic title.
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“After the semifinals I felt extremely good and, as I said, I wanted to run faster”, he told BBC Sport.
“When it comes to the 200m, I’m much more confident”.
“I’m a competitor, he’s a competitor”, Gatlin said. The best of the next generation, the Canadian Andre De Grasse, claimed bronze in 9.91. Gatlin was booed into the stadium after his previous doping bans, a move Bolt was disappointed to hear, describing it as “shocking“.
When asked if Bolt is bigger in Jamaica than Bob Marley, Blake said “he’s getting there”. “He is a fun, cool guy”. There is no rivalry between us, no bad blood.
“I hope he can say the same for me”. Some might argue his gutsy effort at last year’s world championships, when he overcame a season’s worth of injuries to beat Gatlin by 0.01 of a second, might have been the grittiest race he’s won.
Bolt, who is desperate to better his 2009 world best of 19.19sec, said a new record could be on the cards as he geared up Tuesday’s opening round of the 200. Spectators sometimes do not get to witness his top speed due to the ease of his races against the majority of the rest of the world.
“I feel pretty proud of myself”.
A match-up between the two over 400m will not happen.
As ever, Bolt earned further praise with another incredible achievement, and footballing heroes Paul Pogba, Didier Drogba and even Manchester United were quick to congratulate him. But he is keen on a showdown over 300m, possibly next year.
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“That’s the first time I’ve gone into a stadium and they’ve started to boo”, Bolt said.
