Usain Bolt storms to victory in 200m and puts down Rio marker
— -- LONDON -- Usain Bolt put down a marker ahead of the Rio Olympics as he won the 200 metres at the Anniversary Games with a time of 19.89 seconds and fired a warning to his American rivals, accusing them of disrespect.
It was the reigning Olympic champion's first 200m of the year. He was forced to pull out of the Jamaica trials earlier in July with a hamstring injury, but any doubts over his fitness and form were allayed on Friday as he stormed to victory at the stadium where he took three gold medals at London 2012.
"I'm getting there. I'm not fully in shape. I need more work," Bolt said. "But over time I'll be fine, I'll just keep doing the work.
"It wasn't perfect. I came off the corner trying to hold my form. I'm happy with my execution and hopefully my coach is.
"I'm definitely happy I could come here and finish the race with no injuries. I'm going to Rio to defend my titles."
Bolt's main rival for the Olympic crown will be Justin Gatlin, who was one of a number of American sprinters to question Bolt's selection for Rio despite missing the Jamaican trials.
"He's injured and he has a medical pass," Gatlin said. "That's what his country does. Our country doesn't do that."
However, Bolt delivered a warning to Gatlin and those challenging him for his 100 and 200 crowns, saying he felt he was the victim of disrespectful comments from the American camp
"I felt it was a joke. I felt it was a disrespect [if] they think I'd back out of a trials," Bolt said. "I've proven myself year on year that I'm the greatest. I laughed when I heard it. I was disappointed, especially in Justin Gatlin."
Bolt was the biggest draw at the Anniversary Games and received a huge roar when he was paraded around the track on the back of a car. The roars rose when he stormed home to his 200m triumph, but he was visibly frustrated after the delayed start to the race.
After a false start by Sean McLean, and then an interruption due to interference from the PA system, Bolt stormed home. Alonso Edward was second and Adam Gemili third.
He had to prove his fitness to the Jamaica selectors after his hamstring injury ruled him out of the Jamaica trials. Having completed his first 200 of 2016, he will now return to Jamaica for further training before he looks to defend his 100, 200 and 4x100 titles in Rio, looking to complete a "triple-triple" in the process.
The hamstring strain came at an unfortunate time, just 35 days before the start of the Rio Games. But Bolt seems to have fully recovered and his troublesome back is also behaving, with him saying on Thursday it was "OK" and it would hold up so he can "compete and stay on track".
After winning the 200 at the Anniversary Games, his sole focus is now Rio where he will lock horns with rival Gatlin, who won both the 100 and 200 at the U.S. Olympic trials with times of 9.8 and 19.75 seconds, respectively.
Information from ESPN's Tristan Barclay was used in this report.
