Bolt keeps focus after record run - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Bolt keeps focus after record run

Usain Bolt has vowed to put the partying on hold despite smashing his own world record to win the 100 metres in stunning style at the World Championships in Berlin.

The triple Olympic champion stormed to victory in the Olympic Stadium in 9.58 seconds, comfortably beating the mark of 9.69secs he set in Beijing last year. Defending champion Tyson Gay set an American record of 9.71 to claim the silver, with former world record holder Asafa Powell third in 9.84. Britain's Dwain Chambers was sixth in 10.00, a season's best for the 31-year-old.

"I came out here to do my best and I did what I had to do," said Bolt. "There'll be no partying for me ahead of Tuesday. I'll rest up as always, I need to rest up for the 200m."

Bolt's coach Glen Mills had predicted after the Olympics that his protege could run 9.54 and was so nearly proved spot on.

Unlike in Beijing, this time Bolt's shoelaces remained tied and there was no celebrating with arms outstretched metres from the line. Instead, the 22-year-old had to content himself with a couple of glances from side to side as he approached the line, before staring intently at the clock as he waited for the time to register.

"I was feeling good after the semis. I knew it was going to be a great race and I executed it," Bolt said. "It's a great time, a great feeling. I feel good in myself and I knew I could do it. There was a big build up, a great atmosphere. It wasn't going to be an easy race but I had a perfect start and just went from there."

Bolt had shrugged off two false starts in the semi-finals - the second of which saw Britain's Tyrone Edgar disqualified - to breeze into the final. Bolt was guilty of the first false start, which meant any athlete guilty of another would be disqualified.

But after Edgar had committed that second misdemeanour and left the track, Bolt was quickly out of his blocks and almost as quickly began easing down to a brilliant time of 9.89.

That indicated something special was on the cards and the Jamaican superstar duly delivered, powering out of the blocks at the first time of asking in the final and seizing control of the race within 30m.

Gay, who ran the third fastest time ever and was still comfortably beaten, said: "I ran the best I could. I just wanted to give my best tonight, it wasn't enough but I'm happy to have the national record. I knew I had to put out a championship performance. I gave it my best and that's all I could do."

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking