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No Bolt means new 200 world champ for 1st time since 2007

Justin Gatlin of the United States, gold, and Jamaica's Usain Bolt, bronze, from left, smile before the medal ceremony for the Men's 100m during the World Athletics Championships in London Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Justin Gatlin of the United States, gold, and Jamaica's Usain Bolt, bronze, from left, smile before the medal ceremony for the Men's 100m during the World Athletics Championships in London Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Justin Gatlin of the United States, gold, and Jamaica's Usain Bolt, bronze, from left, smile before the medal ceremony for the Men's 100m during the World Athletics Championships in London Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By Associated Press 3 min read

LONDON (AP) – Usain Bolt will surrender another world title. This one, without even taking the track.

The Jamaican great is skipping the 200 meters at the world championships, bringing an end to his string of four straight titles in his favorite event.

This was planned. The loss to Justin Gatlin – along with up-and-coming sprinter Christian Coleman – in the 100 meters? Not so much.

So far, Bolt’s farewell tour in London hasn’t exactly going according to design, and he’ll be only a spectator when the heats of the 200 begin Monday. He still has the 4×100 relay at the end of the meet.

“I’m just disappointed I couldn’t do better for (the fans), but that’s how it goes sometimes,” Bolt said after his bronze-medal finish on Saturday. “The support has been outstanding throughout the years.”