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DAEGU, South Korea (AP) — Usain Bolt will only need about 20
seconds to show the world he is lightning fast and not just a
little jumpy.
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The Jamaican sprinter said in a statement Monday that he was
disappointed with his false start in the 100 meters, which
disqualified him from the world championship final.
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“I was feeling great through the rounds and was ready to run fast
in the final,” said Bolt, who has become the face of track and
field since setting world records in both the 100 and 200 at the
2008 Beijing Olympics. “I worked very hard to get ready for this
championships and things were looking good.”
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Bolt was looking to defend his world titles in both the 100 and 200
in Daegu. Two years ago in Berlin, he broke both his world records,
running 9.58 in the 100 and 19.19 in the 200.
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Setting another record in the 200 is still possible for the tall
Jamaican, who has shown more of his showboating personality on the
track in South Korea. The heats are on Friday ahead of Saturday’s
final.
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“I have to move on now as there is no point to dwell on the past,”
said Bolt, who also congratulated Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake for
winning the 100 world title in his absence. “I have a few days to
refocus and get ready for the 200 meters on Friday. After this I
have the 4×100-meter and a few other races before the end of the
season.
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“I know that I am now in good shape and will focus on running well
in the 200 meters.”
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Bolt was disqualified for jumping the gun in Sunday’s 100 final. In
years past, being the first to false start would have only given
him a warning, but the IAAF changed the rule in 2010 to eliminate
any cautions.
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The worlds in Daegu are the first major championships to enforce
the rule, and they caught the sport’s biggest star in the event’s
marquee race.
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“The rules are there. They’re the same for everyone,” IAAF
spokesman Nick Davies said. “Usain Bolt of course is a fabulous
performer. He’s a star athlete. But we have to be very careful not
to stray into the world of show business where we say, ‘We have a
star. The star must be there. The star must perform.'”
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Although the world was forced to watch the 100-meter final without
the biggest name, former Olympic champion hurdler Allen Johnson
said only Bolt was to blame.
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“I hate to sound a little harsh, but it’s his fault,” Johnson said.
“I tend to think, and I’ve always thought, even when I was
competing, the people who false started showed me that they were
the ones who weren’t ready.
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“Bolt is by far the fastest man ever, but I think yesterday he
showed all of us that he wasn’t in top form. He wasn’t
ready.”
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The IAAF Council is scheduled to meet on Sunday, the final day of
the nine-day championships, and the issue of the false start rule
could come up. The council has the power to change the rule once
again.
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“The main point is that the rule exists,” Davies said. “It’s the
same for everyone.”
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But by next week, the world may see if the “Bolt Factor” has any
say in what happens to the rule for next year’s London
Olympics.
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—
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AP Sports Writer John Leicester contributed to this
report.
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