Athletics
Bolt coasts into final
2011-09-02 13:05
Daegu - A relaxed and joking Usain Bolt on
Friday progressed smoothly into the 200m final at the world
championships, putting behind him the dreadful false start that ruined
his 100m hopes.
The Jamaican reigning world and Olympic champion,
and world record holder (19.19sec), clocked 20.31sec and never looked in
danger after an impeccable start.
He came off the bend well in
front of the field and coasted through to the finish line, affording
himself several glances over his shoulder at the chasing athletes, as he
had also done in his morning heat.
Bolt, who admits he is not in
world record shape this season, had insisted he would not dwell on the
disappointment of his 100m disqualification.
And at a packed Daegu stadium, Bolt did not fail to entertain.
Goofing
at the television cameras, preening his hair and striking his trademark
lightning bolt pose, Bolt seemed relaxed and a world away from the
desolate figure he cut after being disqualified from Sunday's 100m
final.
As introductions were made on the stadium big screen, Bolt
danced, gave a six-gun salute and even performed some karate moves, also
motioning to the crowd with a finger to his lips to be quiet in tandom
with the automated tannoy system.
When the screams and whistles
died down, Bolt, wearing yellow spikes and loose singlet over black
shorts, settled in his blocks and made no mistake on his departure,
registering a relatively slow reaction time in an obvious 'play-safe'
tactic.