After winning 100m gold, Jamaican blake sympathises with compatriot who was disqualified for a false start

Usain Bolt was yesterday disqualified from the final of the 100 metres in the World Championships in Daegu for a false start.


Usain Bolt reacts after being disqualified for a false start.
PIC/AFP

Bolt had looked in brilliant form in the heats and semi-final, feeling all the hard work he had done on his start had finally paid off.

But the Jamaican star got it all wrong in spectacular fashion yesterday evening, springing from his blocks before the gun and pulling his running vest off in frustration, instantly realising he would be disqualified.

While Bolt was still slapping a wall near the start in frustration, compatriot Yohan Blake powered to the title in 9.92 seconds, with American Walter Dix taking silver and veteran Kim Collins the bronze.


Jamaica's Yohan Blake celebrates after winning gold in the men's
100m at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu yesterday

Blake said the win felt like a dream, and thanked training partner Bolt. "I can't find words to explain it," he told Channel 4. "My training partner has been there for me. I feel like I want to cry. I've been praying for this moment. It feels like a dream."

Asked if he was worried by the quick start made by Collins, he added: "I stayed cool. I knew I was going to catch him and I did."

Collins suggested the false-start rule is not right in its current form, which sees an athlete disqualified for any early move. "I don't think it is," he told Channel 4.

"These things happen and you've got to give people a chance." Blake had been the quickest qualifier from the semi-finals, clocking 9.95 in a race which also saw Britain's Dwain Chambers disqualified for a false start.u00a0
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Day Three, Live on Ten Action Plus, 15:00