Tag Archives: lemaitre

London 2012 Olympics: Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake qualify for 200m semi-final

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The Bolt and Blake show dazzle Olympic Stadium again… this time in 200m heats

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UPDATED:

11:40 GMT, 7 August 2012

Olympics 2012

Usain Bolt began his bid to add a second Olympic 200 metres crown to his two 100m titles with a hugely comfortable heat victory.

The Jamaican, who clocked an Olympic record 9.63 seconds to retain his 100m crown on Sunday, cruised to victory in 20.39secs.

Bolt has said he needs to win 200m gold again before he achieves his aim of becoming a 'legend'.

Home straight: Bolt looked impressive as he qualified for the 200m semi-finals

Home straight: Bolt looked impressive as he qualified for the 200m semi-finals

'It was an easy run, I'm enjoying it, it's my favourite event,” said Bolt. 'It's getting pretty chilly. They say the weather should be good on Thursday [for the final] so we'll see.'

Asked what he did to celebrate his 100m success, he said: 'Nothing. I just chilled, met some friends and sat and talked.'

Bolt's countryman and training partner Yohan Blake also breezed through, slowing down well before the line to clock 20.38s.

Lightning Bolt: Usain cruised to victory and then soaked up the atmosphere in the stadium

Lightning Bolt: Usain cruised to victory and then soaked up the atmosphere in the stadium

Lightning Bolt: Usain cruised to victory and then soaked up the atmosphere in the stadium

Blake had to settle for silver in the 100m, but is out to deny Bolt a second gold, having beaten him over 200m at the Jamaican trials

France's Christophe Lemaitre went quicker than both Jamaicans in winning his heat in 20.34 and Bolt nodded in approval as he watched his rival's run on a TV screen.

Cruise control: Blake also eased into the semi-final of the 200 metres

Cruise control: Blake also eased into the semi-final of the 200 metres

London 2012 Olympics: Christophe Lemaitre to focus on 200m

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European champion Lemaitre skips 100m to focus on 200m at London 2012

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UPDATED:

13:32 GMT, 26 July 2012

French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre is set to compete only in the 200 metres at the London Olympics, his coach has confirmed.

The 22-year-old will not run in the 100m, at which he is the reigning double European champion, in a bid to maximise his medal chances over the longer distance.

His coach Pierre Carraz told L'Equipe they 'have put a definitive cross' against the 100m.

Switching focus: Lemaitre won the 200m at Crystal Palace earlier this month

Switching focus: Lemaitre won the 200m at Crystal Palace (below) earlier this month

Switching focus: Lemaitre won the 200m at Crystal Palace (below) earlier this month

Olympics 2012

He added: 'In the results over 100m, Christophe is only ranked 10th among those who have entered.

'Over 200m, we can hope for a medal.'

Carraz did hint, though, that any significant withdrawals from the 100m might prompt a rethink

Lemaitre, the first white man to break the 10-second barrier, has only run 10.04secs for the 100m so far this year.

He is the world No 4 over 200m, though, having clocked 19.91s to win the Diamond League meeting at Crystal Palace 12 days ago.

Lemaitre also won 200m bronze at last year's World Championships in Daegu.

London 2012 Olympics: Tyson Gay lauds "phenomenal" Adam Gemili

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Sky's the limit for Gemili, says Gay as sprint star lauds 'phenomenal' display

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UPDATED:

15:45 GMT, 12 July 2012

American Tyson Gay predicted Britain's Adam Gemili will become one of the greatest sprinters of all time after his 'phenomenal' victory in the world junior championships.

Gemili, 18, stormed to victory in Barcelona on Wednesday night, clocking a new personal best and championship record of 10.05 seconds, making him the fastest British junior in history ahead of Dwain Chambers (10.06secs).

European champion Christophe Lemaitre is the only European athlete to have run quicker than Gemili all season, and former triple world champion Gay was suitably impressed by the teenager's performance.

Record breaker: Gemili smashed the championship record en route to gold

Record breaker: Gemili smashed the championship record en route to gold

'Phenomenal. It was phenomenal,' said Gay, 29, the second fastest man of all time behind Usain Bolt.

'Maybe I can get some tips from him because of the great way he executed (the race).

'He had a great drive phase, came up patient; he did a lot of things I'm working on which I don't know why it's so hard for me to get. He nailed it, man. And he has a lot more potential in the 200m.

Rising star: Gay has tipped Gemili for the top

Rising star: Gay has tipped Gemili for the top

'At 18, that's quite impressive. I think he's going to be around for a while, I think he's going to be one of the greatest sprinters of all time, watching that race. He done it at the big show and that's where it counts.'

Gemili only started concentrating fully on athletics at the start of the year after being a promising footballer previously on the books of Chelsea and Dagenham and Redbridge.

And asked what had impressed him most about the Kent athlete's display, Gay added: 'First of all, he's just started running. That's probably more impressive than anything, for him to pick up the start, the reaction, the drive phase, the finish, in a year. It wasn't perfect but it was damn near.

'For him to do that in a year shows he is a fast learner. And to be running track you have to be a quick learner. You have to come out the blocks, keep focused, react, keep your head down, all at one time in the big show. For him to be able to do that shows he has some talent.

Centre of attention: Gay is the second fastest sprinter of all time

Centre of attention: Gay is the second fastest sprinter of all time

'He has to keep what he's doing, keep listening to his coach, don't change nothing. Don't listen to all the hype. Just carry on with what you're doing.

'For this next four years I don't think people should look for him to break the world record but for him to maintain and get better.

'The time he ran is great for his age. If he goes 9.99 next year, then 9.92 and then the 9.8s in a steady progression, that's what he's capable of doing as long as he stays healthy.'

Gemili's coach had previously expressed concern about the teenager running in the Olympics, fearing he might never recover from getting burnt out in the 'cauldron' of the Games.

Flying the flag: The British star set a new personal best on Wednesday

Flying the flag: The British star set a new personal best on Wednesday

However, Gay believes Gemili is fearless after seeing him train in Florida, where he has indulged in a bit of friendly 'trash talk' with the Briton and nicknamed him Drake, apparently due to his resemblance to the Canadian rapper.

'I think he's tough man, he just needs experience,' added Gay, who joked he was running 10.46 seconds as an 18-year-old.

'As long as keeps humble, and keeps working hard, I think the sky's the limit for him.

'I don't think it (the 100m final in London) is too much too soon because I think anything can happen. I just think he has to continue what he's doing. You tweak a few things but you don't change nothing.

'He's still rough, he's still new to all this so I don't think you should throw a lot at him. I think he's going to get a lot of attention but as long as he understands and has a good team around him, I think he'll be a great athlete for the future.'

British team captain Dai Greene was also hugely impressed by Gemili's performance, saying: 'I don't know too much about sprinting technicalities but I know he won convincingly and ran a PB. It was really impressive.

'It's nice to have someone running so well at such a young age and he seems to have a good mentality as well. I don't think anyone has a bad word to say about him which is very refreshing.

'He looked very laid back, I don't think he realised the magnitude of what he was doing maybe. I wasn't even good enough to qualify for world juniors, never mind win one.

'He did fantastically well and hopefully he can keep pushing over the next few years and really improve as a senior but he's had a fantastic year. Regardless of what happens at the Olympics he's already exceeded all expectation I think.'

Usain Bolt claims lack of food to blame for slow run

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Need more chicken nuggets, Usain Bolt claims lack of food led to slow race

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UPDATED:

12:53 GMT, 29 May 2012

Usain Bolt has shrugged off his disappointing performance in Ostrava and revealed his recipe for success – namely sleeping and eating more.

Bolt clocked 10.04 seconds on Friday evening, the first time he has failed to break 10 seconds in a final since 2009 in the middle of a rainstorm in Toronto.

But the triple Olympic champion was his usual relaxed self at a press conference ahead of his appearance in the Diamond League meeting in Rome on Thursday, telling reporters he was confident that having an 'off day' would not become a trend.

Relaxed: Usain Bolt is says one bad performance will not become a trend

Relaxed: Usain Bolt is says one bad performance will not become a trend

Massage: Bolt takes a break from training in Rome ahead of his next run

Massage: Bolt takes a break from training in Rome ahead of his next run

'I explained to my coach (Glen Mills) that my legs were not feeling that energetic, probably through a lack of sleep and not enough food,' the 25-year-old Jamaican said.

'Since I got here I've been trying to get a lot more sleep and eating better so everything is seeming to be on a better track.

'You never have a good race every time you run. You have to just put that behind you and move on. It's not a worry. I have a lot more races and the main one is at the Olympics.

High standards: Bolt will improve for himself

High standards: Bolt will improve for himself

Less than convincing: Bolt (centre) laboured to victory in Ostrava

Less than convincing: Bolt (centre) laboured to victory in Ostrava

'I have set a high standard for myself so I know people like to see me run fast.

'I can't look at it as pressure. People expect you to do certain things – I know I will have my bad races but I have to stay strong and focused.'

Bolt will face compatriot and former world record holder Asafa Powell in the 100m on Thursday, along with France's European champion Christophe Lemaitre and veteran Kim Collins.