The 25-year-old, who has already won the 100m, bids later on Thursday to retain his 200m title and become the first male athlete in Olympic history to achieve the sprint double twice.

Bolt had indicated he would run in the relay final if he was asked to, depending on how he felt after the 200m and the 4x100m relay. But Jermaine Gonzalez pulled up lame halfway round the third leg in yesterday’s 4x400m, meaning Jamaica are out of the event.