Superstar sprinter Usain Bolt anchored the Jamaican 100m relay squad into Saturday’s final despite a scare and insisted again that he was delighted to be in Glasgow.
Bolt has been forced to deny reports that he made a disparaging remark about these Commonwealth Games, but his long-awaited appearance was almost ruined by injury rather than controversy.
Jamaica’s lead-off man Kimmari Roach appeared to hurt his thigh midway through the first leg of their heat but managed to get the baton to second man Julian Forte before Nickel Ashmeade and then Bolt took the team home.
Bolt admitted afterwards: “I looked round and thought something was wrong.
“I was kind of worried but Kimmari got the baton round, and that is the sign of a true champion. My coach always taught us to run with pain.”
On Wednesday the Times newspaper claimed that Bolt had described the Games in negative terms and on Thursday published a transcript of his exchange with their reporter.
But Bolt told BBC Sport: “I can’t believe they actually said that. I would never use that word. I love competing and I am here because of the fans.
“It’s wonderful, just like the London Olympics. The crowd is great. I have heard it throughout the championships and watched it on the television.
“Everything’s been good for me. It’s just the weather. It’s got cold. But I am happy to be here and I am enjoying what’s going on.”
Source-BBC
