There's a real sense of vulnerability about Usain Bolt's chances of defending his World 100m title in London next month. The Jamaican intends to retire after the Championships where he runs in both the 100m and 4x100m relay.
Bolt is yet to register a sub-10 second time this season. He's has run just two races, 10.03 in his final race on home soil and 10.06 at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava last month, neither performance particularly impressed.
A persistent back injury, one which has affected him for many years, has hampered him against this season. On Wednesday ahead of his final race before London at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on Friday night, Bolt said that he has recovered and is hitting form ahead of next month.
Olympic bronze medalist Andre De Grasse was scheduled to run the 100m in Monaco. However, according to the Canadian's coach Stuart McMillan, Bolt ensured that De Grasse was removed from the race.
Bolt always had a sense of being untouchable at major championships. That certainly is not the case this time around. McMillan's claim further exacerbates that feeling.
We were in the [100m] race. We got booted out. That’s all on Bolt.
Let's just say he wanted not such an elite field against him.
The fastest guy in the world gets to choose the field. But I don’t blame him at all.
This is his last year, he’s only raced twice. I totally understand that he doesn’t want to increase the pressure prior to Worlds by going in with a potential loss.
If anyone deserves the right to choose the field, it’s Bolt.
The Telegraph's Ben Bloom reports that Bolt's management has denied that the 30-year-old had anything to do with having De Grasse removed from the race.
Friday night's 100m in at the Stade Louis II will feature some other in-form competitors including two of the five fastest in the world this year. South African Akani Simbane has run 9.92 and American Christopher Belcher 9.93.
Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
