Reuters
Kingston, July 2: Usain Bolt confirmed suffering a grade one hamstring tear at Jamaica’s Olympic trials here Friday but the star sprinter said that he hopes to secure his place at the Rio Games by proving his fitness at the London Anniversary Games later this month.
A hamstring injury takes a minimum of four weeks to heal so the recent setback has definitely affected Bolt’s chances of going for a ‘Triple triple’. Bolt had won golds in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relays at both the Beijing Games (2008) and London Olympics (2012).
Bolt withdrew from the final of the men’s 100 metres after Friday night’s semifinals as Yohan Blake went on to win the trial in 9.95 seconds. “After feeling discomfort in my hamstring after the first round last night (Thursday) and then again in the semifinal tonight (Friday) I was examined by the chief doctor of the National Championships and diagnosed with a grade 1 tear,” Bolt said on his official FB page.
“I have submitted a medical exemption to be excused from the 100m final and the remainder of the national championships. I will seek treatment immediately and hope to prove my fitness at the London Anniversary Games July 22 to earn selection for the Olympic Games in Rio,” the two-time Olympic 100 metres and 200 metres gold medallist added.
Bolt had clocked 10.04 seconds to win semifinal one after a poor start. His withdrawal does not mean he would miss the Rio Olympics, where Bolt is expected to defend his 100 and 200 metre titles. Unlike the United States, where the first three finishers in the trials win Olympic berths, Jamaica’s selection policy allows medical exemptions.
His coach Glen Mills said that efforts were made since Thursday night to get Bolt ready for Friday’s semifinal and final. “The therapist did a good job working on him but when he took part in the runs, he felt the effects of the torn hamstring,” Mills informed.