Piqued by suggestions of a possible decline, Usain Bolt responded with a blistering season debut at 200 meters and a track record at the Bislett Games.
“I’m not in as bad shape as I thought I was,” Bolt said Thursday after his emphatic victory.
Bolt, whose conditioning was questioned after losing the 100 by 0.01 seconds in Rome last week, finished in 19.79. He is the only one to break 20 seconds this season.
“Overall it was a good run, I can’t complain. It’s sub 20,” said the Jamaican, who holds the world record at 19.19. “I could have done better. I think I need to work on my corners but otherwise it was a good race.”
Bolt topped the Bislett record set by Frank Fredericks of Namibia in 1996 by 0.03 seconds.
“At the end of the day it’s not about time,” Bolt said. “It’s about winning. Because if I run 20 flat at the world championships and I win, I’ll be happy.”