Olympic and world champion and world record holder at 9.58 seconds, Bolt, reacted a little too quickly to the starter’s gun in the 100 metres final leading to his disqualification as the most-eagerly awaited event of the Championships met with an anti-climactic end. Bolt’s failure to compete enabled his friend and training partner Yohan Blake to emerge as the new world sprint champion.
Fans at the stadium and millions watching on television had only disappointment in store as the biggest draw card of the event vanished from the scene, thanks to a rule that allows no room for error.
As the eight finalists settled into the blocks, the starter seemed to hold a moment too long before firing his gun and Bolt was off a shade early, clearly infringing on the rules. As he trudged back, leaving his lane vacant, the life had gone out of the race which was won by Blake in 9.92 seconds. The new Jamaican sensation became the youngest world champion in the event.
“I have nothing to say right now. I need some time,” said dejected former champion Bolt, who has blazed the track for the past three years with his charismatic presence and super human performances that have drawn loads of fans to stadiums around the world. At these Championships, even the schedule was altered to fit in the 4x100M relay as the last event on the final day, with the Jamaican’s presence certain to bring in more fans to the venue in a country where football is the dominant sport.
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