Usain Bolt always manages to retain a veneer of being unbothered by his rivals but he was unable to hide his distaste for the starting blocks being used at the world championships.
The Jamaican wants to sign off with one final 100m title to add to his 11 world and eight Olympic golds but admitted he needs to repair his relationship with the blocks in order to triumph on Saturday. The 30-year-old looked exasperated after winning his heat in 10.07sec despite a terrible start.
“These are the worst blocks I’ve ever experienced,” he said, “It was very bad, I stumbled out of the blocks, I’m not fond of them, I have to get my start together.
“During the warm up I fell back on the blocks, they’re just not what I’m used to, they’re not as firm and sturdy.”
The first sight of Usain Bolt at these championships coincided with Justin Gatlin leaving the track after winning his heat. Suddenly the boos for the pantomime villain – a twice convicted drugs cheat – dissolved, replaced by cheers of “Bolt, Bolt, Bolt”.
During his warmup, he jogged to the 60m mark spread his arms wide into a crucifix position to the flash of thousands of cameras. On the start line there was a knowing grin, a mock expression of surprise, a bow of acknowledgement and –when his name was finally announced to the stadium – a display of shadow boxing.
Bolt’s British rival CJ Ujah urged organisers not to turn this championships into a retirement party for Bolt but clearly the message had not been relayed to the crowd who responded wildly.
“It’s always wonderful,” Bolt said. “They always show me so much love and I appreciate it, I’m looking forward to getting to the finals and doing my best.”
This season more than ever before, Bolt has seemed fallible, running sub-10 seconds just once. He has also struggled with a back injury and had to overcome the emotional trauma of the death of his close friend, the British high jumper Germaine Mason, in a motorcycle accident.
On the evidence of the heats he is not unbeatable. The most impressive of his rivals on first inspection was Christian Coleman, the fastest man in the world this year. The 21-year-old ran 9.82 in June, making him the fourth quickest American in history. He won his heat from lane nine in 10.01 easing down and alleviating any concern that the gruelling US college season had left him low on energy.
“There was a lot of excitement and energy in the building,” Coleman said. “I’ve just got to calm myself and keep composed. I don’t feel any pressure, I just want to do what I’m capable of because I live with the results.”
Bolt’s compatriot Yohan Blake has been identified by many as his principal rival for gold but “The Beast” got a terrible start from lane nine in his heat. The 27-year-old clawed his way back to take second place in 10.13.
Ujah also had a safe passage, finishing second in his heat in 10.07. The Londoner remained calm after a false start in his heat when Mosito Lehata from Lesotho was shown a red card. He got a good start but was overtaken by China’s Su Bingtian, who won in 10.03.
“I was really relaxed just didn’t want to overcook it,” Ujah said. “It was nice to get out there, the London world champs it can’t get any better than this, I just want to make it to the final now.
Ujah’s room-mate Reece Prescod lowered his personal best to 10.03 to qualify from the inside lane with a superb run. The 21-year-old, a surprise victor at the British trials last month, is from Walthamstow, just three miles from the Olympic stadium.
