Justin Gatlin ruined Usain Bolt's farewell party when the 35-year-old American won the 100 metres title at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday, sparking a chorus of boos from a crowd unhappy with his doping past.
Jamaican Bolt made a terrible start but this time he could not make it up as Christian Coleman, the 21-year-old American who beat him in the semi-finals, looked set for victory. Former world and Olympic champion Gatlin, who stumbled at the death to lose the 2015 world final to Bolt, timed his surge and dip to perfection to win in 9.92 seconds.
Coleman took silver in 9.94 with Bolt third in 9.95.
After the loss to Gatlin, Bolt said:
It’s just one of those things. My start is killing me. Normally it gets better during the rounds but it didn’t come together. And that is what killed me. I felt it was there. It was rough. A little bit stressed. But I came out like at any other championships and did my best. I am not fully comfortable in those blocks but you have to work with what you have. I can’t complain about that.
Bolt also had generous words about his competitor who had bested him.
He (Gatlin) is a great competitor. You have to be at your best against him. I really appreciate competing against him and he is a good person.
Gatlin too returned the favour when he spoke about Bolt after the race, mentioning how the latter had “pushed him to be the runner I am today”.
Usain’s the man. If you imagine him not being in the sport, where would it be? He’s a character, he’s funny, he’s lovable, it’s hard to be focused against him because you want to wish him the best and I’m happy to be one of his top rivals throughout the years. He’s pushed me to be the runner I am today and I’m happy to be in his last race and so many races before that. The night is still his night.
Bolt still has the 4x100 relay next weekend. When asked if he wished he could run what is widely considered his best race — the 200, one of three events (100 and 4x100 are the others) where he holds the world record.
It probably would’ve been even worse. I’m not in shape to run 200 meters right now.
Admitting that at 30, he is probably picking the best time to retire, Bolt said.
I did it for the fans. They wanted me to go for one more season. I came out and did the best I could. No regrets. It was always going to end no matter what: win, lose or draw.
Bolt’s Competitor Gatlin was Greeted With Boos From the Crowd
Gatlin was greeted with a chorus of boos throughout the race, which he said he “tuned out”.
I did what I had to do. We are rivals on the track but in the warm-up area we have a good time. He congratulated me and the first thing he said was I didn’t deserve all these boos.
Warm, effusive reactions poured in after the match, regarding Bolt’s last race.
His team mate Yohan Blake, who finished fourth said:
I’m surprised at what happened because Bolt came third -- he’s a man for winning and his start has been letting him down.
Coleman spoke of the “icon” Bolt was:
It’s an historic moment... (Bolt) is somebody I looked up to when I was coming up and watching him run. He’s an icon, I was just happy to be on a line with him and it’s a humble feeling.
Denise Lewis, Olympic gold medallist in the heptathlon in 2000 also had a few words for the winner Justin Gatlin:
He has been through the mill and whatever side of the fence you sit on, it is sport. He was crying and that moved me. He has worked hard. He still has to train as hard as everyone else and turn up and deliver.
(With inputs from Reuters and AP)
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