Usain Bolt stormed to world 200m gold in the third fastest time of his life to put the nightmare of his 100m disqualification behind him.
Bolt exploded from the blocks six days after producing that famous false start before stretching away down the home straight to win in 19.40 seconds. The Jamaican stated he was out to prove a point.
“I made a mistake but I came back to show the world that I’m still the best,” Bolt said. “I’m not a legend yet. I’m on my way, but I’ve got to go to London and blow people’s minds, to go to the Olympics and do something extraordinary.”
American Walter Dix took silver in 19.70s with France’s Christophe Lemaitre destroying his personal best to take bronze in 19.80s. Lemaitre’s time equalled the fastest ever for third in a World final but he was barely within shouting distance of the reigning champion.
Bolt is the first man since Calvin Smith in 1987 to retain a 200m World title. He now has three of the fastest times in the history of the event with marks of 19.30s at the 2008 Olympics and 19.19s at the 2009 world championships. Bolt states he felt no pressure this time around.
“Lane three was a bit tight for me. I always wish to run in an outside lane. I didn’t run a perfect corner. If I’d run a good corner I could have come in the straight and done much better. But I’m happy.
“It wasn’t really big pressure. I was a little bit nervous. I’m always nervous for the 200, I think because it’s my favourite event and I love doing it so much. But for me the start wasn’t a pressure because all I had to do was sit and wait. And that was it.”
Related Videos
