Usain Bolt won the Men’s 200m in 19.89 at London Diamond League on Friday, July 22, proving he is fit and healthy to compete in the event at his last Olympics set for August 5-21, which is just two weeks away. Watch the race and interview below.
This is Bolt’s first 200m race all season. He was forced to withdraw from Jamaica Olympic Trials on July 2 after his run in the Men’s 100m semi-final due to Grade 1 hamstring tear. He resumed training on July 10 after a speedy recovery process. The fastest 200m time this year is 19.74 set by USA’s LaShawn Merritt.
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Panamanian Alonso Edward finished second in a season’s best 20.04. Britain’s Adam Gemili was third in a time of 20.07.
Jamaica’s Nickel Ashmeade,who has a season best of 20.07 finished 8th in 20.51. Ashmeade finished second in 20.45 at the Jamaica Olympic Trials/Jamaican Senior Championships earlier this month. Yohan Blake won the Men’s 200m final in 20.29 at the Trials. Bolt ran 9.88 in the 100 meters at Racers Grand Prix in Kingston on Jun 12 after stumbling at the start.
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Bolt applied for a medical exemption which was granted by The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), the national governing body for the sport of athletics / track and field in Jamaica. The medical exemption requires that he must prove his fitness before July ends.
