Few were more surprised than Usain Bolt to see the quick exit of USA sprinting superstar Justin Gatlin during the 200 meter event at the 2016 Rio Olympic games. But the Jamaican superstar also had a few playful words for Gatlin as well.
After all, Bolt flat out called Gatlin old in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, per ESPN.
“Everybody’s in shock,” said Bolt. You can tell from the 100 meters he’s getting old. It’s a fact the older you get, the rougher it gets to double.”
Gatlin noted that he had rolled his ankle in the run up to the Olympics and that had likely contributed to his early exit in the 200 meter event. He believes he should’ve rested it instead of making an effort when he wasn’t fully healthy.
When healthy, Gatlin has been the biggest competition to the unbeatable Bolt in both the 100 and 200 meter events. That wasn’t the case after the 100 meter race earlier in the week, and it showed big time as Gatlin finished third in the semi-final.
Bolt has all the credibility to talk, and the playful nature to know these words aren’t meant in a mean-spirited way. After all, this is the guy who was captured smiling for the cameras while still racing to the finish line in the 100 meters.
we did it. we have the opposite of crying jordan pic.twitter.com/cw7a8cHy5Z
— suss– 🥌 (@suss2hyphens) August 15, 2016
He also was caught laughing it up with Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse during the same 200 meter heat that saw Gatlin finish third and fail to make it to the final.
Bolt even had a playful taunt for De Grasse following the youngster making every effort to nearly beat him in the semifinal.
“That was really unnecessary,” Bolt said. “I don’t know what he was trying to do. He’s a young kid. He’s great. He has a lot of talent. I’m looking forward to the competition in the final.”
[ESPN]
