Usain Bolt dealt injury blow ahead of Rio
A hamstring tear has forced Usain Bolt to withdraw from the Jamaican Championships, the world record-holder confirmed on Friday (July 1).
After clocking 10.04 in his 100m semi-final at the Jamaican Olympic trials, Bolt did not run the final and will now rely on gaining medical exemption to compete at the Rio Games, if he can prove his fitness beforehand.
In a statement posted on his Twitter and Facebook accounts, the six-time Olympic gold medallist said: "After feeling discomfort in my hamstring after the first round last night and then again in the semi-final tonight I was examined by the Chief Doctor of the National Championships and diagnosed with a Grade 1 tear.
"I have submitted a medical exemption to be excused from the 100m final and the remainder of the National Championships.
"I will seek treatment immediately and hope to show fitness at the London Anniversary Games on July 22 to earn selection for the Olympic Games in Rio."
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) July 2, 2016
He later posted two pictures on Twitter, captioned, "Starting the recovery process right away."
Starting the recovery process right away. pic.twitter.com/J0HuvxOfiJ
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) July 2, 2016
The men's 100m title was claimed by Yohan Blake, who clocked 9.95, while Bolt had also been due to contest the 200m in Kingston this weekend.
Bolt has run 9.88 for 100m so far this season, which puts him second on the world rankings behind Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut's 9.86.
Also in Kingston, world 200m silver medallist Elaine Thompson stormed to victory in the women's 100m final, clocking 10.70 to equal the Jamaican record set by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2012 and move to joint fourth on the world all-time list. Fraser-Pryce was second with 10.93.
Only Florence Griffith Joyner, Carmelita Jeter and Marion Jones have ever run quicker.
