RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – As Usain Bolt churned down the Olympic track, his main rival was trying to get in front of a TV monitor to catch a quick glimpse of the race.
Justin Gatlin missed the Jamaican’s first-round heat. That’s OK, the American sprinter has seen plenty of Bolt to know exactly what to expect.
Bolt is a huge favorite to win an unprecedented third straight Olympic title in the 100 meters on Sunday. And that’s despite pulling out of the Jamaican trials last month because of a sore hamstring and wishing he had more races coming into Rio de Janeiro.
It certainly hasn’t changed his focus.
“It’s always to win. That’s what I’m here for,” said Bolt, who was 3-for-3 in races at the 2008 Beijing Games and again four years later in London. “That’s what I’m going for. My focus is to go out there and do my best, and execute well.”