Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt overcame a terrible start to round off his season with a victory in 9.86sec in the 100m at the Diamond League meet in Brussels on Friday night.
Bolt’s reaction time out of the blocks left him chasing St Kitts and Nevis veteran Kim Collins in front of a packed King Baudouin Stadium.
Fresh from claiming a second successive treble gold medal haul at the London Olympics, Bolt’s pick-up was also slack, but his trademark strong drive phase saw him surge past the rest of the field.
The towering Jamaican even had enough room to ease up a full 10 metres from the line before quickly undoing the laces of his spikes and hurling them into the crowd.
Bolt’s compatriots Nesta Carter (9.96) and Kemar Bailey Cole (9.97) finished in second and third positions.
“I’m just happy to have got through the season,” said Bolt. “The key coming here was for the fans and just to get through injury free.
“Coming into this, I did a start yesterday and I said to my coach I’m so tired. I went through the motions, it was an okay race - I didn’t lose.
“To go to the Olympics and push yourself drains you mentally because at the start everyone was saying you’ll lose, so you push yourself.
“Mentally you’ve got to be in the game. The Olympics are a big stage and you don’t want to make mistakes so you push yourself mentally and physically, and at the end of the season, the level goes down fast.”
Bolt played down fears that he would be overwhelmed by his return to Jamaica after his amazing season.
“When I’m at home, I’m always at home, chilling. Over time it (the attention) will calm down, I’ll be alright,” said the Jamaican.
Blake attempt
Bolt’s training partner Yohan Blake, double sprint silver medallist in London, failed to upstage the master, also coached by Glen Mills.
Blake, who has not raced Bolt since the London Games, was eyeing Bolt’s world record of 19.19sec in the 200m, having previously run 19.26sec on this track.
After nailing the bend, Blake faded slightly at the bell to win in 19.54sec, still the ninth fastest time in history.
“I came off the turn, felt no one beside me and couldn’t push it,” said Blake. “I’ll focus next time and get some more out of it.”