Usain Bolt baffled by ‘worst 200m of his career’
Jamaican sprint king still wins but needs to find his speed for world championships in Beijing in August
The last time he competed in this stadium, Usain Bolt ran the fastest 100 metres in history.
In his return seven years later, he had what he called the worst 200 of his career.
His typical bravado replaced by bewilderment, Bolt said after his uninspiring victory at the Adidas Grand Prix on Saturday he can’t figure out why he feels good in training but can’t execute in races.
I never try to worry. I just always keep working because for some reason I always figure it out
Hoping to break 20 seconds for the first time this year, Bolt ran what he deemed a “horrible” curve and acknowledged he was so discouraged he eased up before the finish. His time of 20.29 was more than a second off his world record of 19.19.
“I don’t know what happened,” Bolt said. “I really can’t explain it. It was really bad. It was probably one of the worst turns I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
Everything feels good physically, he added. He had been laughing and boasting at a news conference a day earlier, a sign his confidence is just fine. And he and his coach were pleased with his workout on Friday.
The last thing Bolt was expecting was a showing like this at the New York stop on the Diamond League, track’s elite series. The 200 did not count for Diamond League points, so Bolt wasn’t facing a top field.
“I got out of the blocks and I just didn’t go anywhere, pretty much,” he said.