Bolt cruises to 200m victory, now wants a rest

Astolfo Cagnacci

Triple Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt cruised to victory in the 200m at the last Golden League meeting here on Friday, his winning time of 19.57sec the fourth fastest ever despite the cool and damp conditions.

The Jamaican world record holder saw off America's Wallace Spearmon, second in 20.19sec, with Ramil Guliyev of Azerbaijan taking third in 20.47sec in the Belgian capital, where the temperature was an autumnal 15 degrees.

Having decimated the Berlin world championship field last month by winning in 19.19sec to improve on his Beijing Games mark of 19.30, Bolt again showed his class as he breezed home.

"I felt really good and I expected a quick run as this track is really very fast," said Bolt.

Despite carrying on his rich vein of form Bolt admitted that he was now feeling the effects of a long season.

"I am happy that there is no big championship in 2010," he revealed candidly, saying he had felt the cold over the final 30 metres. "But of course I am very satisfied with my time. The Belgian fans were really fabulous - they gave me so much energy, waving Jamaican flags. That sent shivers down my spine. It's for them I like to put on a show, it's my personality and I shall not change that."

Asked if other athletes might find his relaxed confidence a little arrogant, Bolt said: "I have always been like that and no one has ever complained. I like to warm up the crowd - it's also what the spectators come for."

And regarding what other goals he could possibly have left to achieve on the track, Bolt laughed and said - "I want to become a legend. So I have to keep on winning lots of races and stay at the highest level."

Also Friday, Bolt's compatriot Asafa Powell saw off US rivals Tyson Gay and Darvis Patton to win the 100m in 9.90sec.

In Berlin three weeks ago, former world record holder Powell had come in third behind Bolt and Gay.

"I ran a good race - the start especially was good," said Powell. "I even set off too quickly - I gave it a lot over the first 20-30 metres, then I kept it going."

Gay slammed his own poor start.

BRUSSELS, Sunday, AFP