In a shocking turn of events, Jamaican super sprinter Usain Bolt was disqualified for a false start during the final of the 100m at the world athletics championships, thwarting his dream of a third golden treble.
Seizing the opportunity, fellow countryman Yohan Blake secured the gold medal with a time of 9.92 seconds.
Blake proved to be a worthy victor, as he was the sole competitor in the final to surpass the 10-second mark.
However, the outcome of the race felt more focused on Bolt, who was absent from contention.
Taking his position in lane five, Bolt prematurely took off, leaving the crowd in Daegu in disbelief as the distraught athlete tore off his shirt and buried his head in his hands before exiting the track.
“I can’t find words to explain it. Usain Bolt has been there for me. I feel like I want to cry,” remarked Blake, who trains alongside Bolt under coach Glen Mills.
“I’ve been coached by one of the best, but I remained composed and managed to overtake (Collins). I felt I owed the victory to Bolt.”
In Daegu, Bolt was the overwhelming favorite, having triumphed in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at both the Beijing Olympics and the 2009 world championships, where he set world records in both individual events.
He had announced his aim to become a legend in the sport if he could replicate that success in South Korea and at the upcoming London Olympics.
Throughout the competition, the focus typically fell on who could dethrone Bolt, only to see the answer turn out to be Bolt himself.
The previous year, the governing body of world athletics implemented a rule against false starts.
Yet, it’s hard to believe they anticipated such a monumental star falling victim to it on such a grand stage.
Blake, at just 21 years old, went on to win gold in a manner reminiscent of Bolt, finishing with an impressive margin of 0.16 seconds while posing for victory photographs.
Walter Dix of the USA earned silver with a time of 10.08 seconds, while 35-year-old Kim Collins from St Kitts and Nevis secured third place at 10.09 seconds.
Collins had previously claimed the world title back in 2003 and was a standout participant at this year’s Stawell Gift in rural Victoria.
The competition was notably impacted by the absence of former world record holder Asafa Powell and leading American sprinter Tyson Gay due to injuries.
Additionally, two of the top sprinters in the world this year, Jamaican Steve Mullings and American Michael Rogers, were not present after failing drug tests.
Veteran Collins, who achieved gold in the 100m at the world championships in Paris in 2003, expressed, “It was awesome. I had a good start, and it was an excellent race. I didn’t expect them to catch up to me.”
“The champion is out, so you must take advantage of that,” remarked the 35-year-old. “However, maybe if he had been there, I might have earned a medal.”
“I disagree with the false start rule, but since the IAAF believes it’s beneficial for television, it will likely remain. I know what I need to do to qualify for London next year.”
by Buford Balony