SHARE
COPY LINK

PARIS

Usain Bolt delivers 200m belter in Paris

Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt raced to a world-leading time of 19.73 seconds in the 200m at the Diamond League meet in Paris on Saturday.

Usain Bolt delivers 200m belter in Paris
Usain Bolt wins the 200 metres in Paris. Photo: Bertrand Guay/AFP

It was the 26-year-old's second outing over his favoured event this season after clocking 19.79sec at Oslo on June 13th.

In the meantime, American rival Tyson Gay had raced 19.74sec in winning the US championships in Des Moines last month.

But Bolt fired another raking broadside Stateside with an emphatic victory in scorching style just one month out from the August 10-18 World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

"That's good, I'm happy with myself," said Bolt, the world record holder in both sprint events, and six-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion.

"I love Paris, I always feel wonderful here, it's a great crowd."

But he said it was not all perfect.

"I'm getting there. I still need to work on a few mistakes, and my coach (Glen Mills) will determine on what exactly it will be."

Wearing a blue and gold peppered sleeveless shirt, black shorts, and white and blue shoes, Bolt looked as if he meant business at the Stade de France.

Unlike his experience in the Norwegian capital, he and the 50,000 spectators packed into the stadium north of Paris enjoyed balmy conditions, with temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius (81F).

After an average start reaction time, Bolt exploded into the corner and was up on compatriot Warren Weir in lane seven within 10 paces.

As he rounded the bend, Weir looked like he would resume parity, but teeth clenched and at full tilt, Bolt destroyed the field in the final 40 metres to set a new meeting record, the previous best of 20.01sec set by US track legend Michael Johnson in 1990.

Olympic bronze medallist Weir claimed second place in 19.92sec, with France's Christophe Lemaitre finishing third in a season's best of 20.07.

In the build-up to the race, Bolt was introduced to a raucous crowd sitting through the open top of a 2CV, the iconic French Peugeot car.

When he made his entrance onto the track, the noise levels went up a notch and, ever the actor, Bolt delighted in playing up to the television cameras, preening his eyebrows and hair before doing his trademark bow-and-arrow pose.

Come race time and there was no nonsense from Bolt, an awesome bend followed by the afterburners in his drive phase to ensure a comfortable win in his favoured event.

Gay will take note of his rival's performance but it is tough not to imagine Bolt adding to the five gold medals he garnered in the last two world championships come Moscow.

"All is building up towards a great world championships, you will see a big show there, it will be the climax," warned Bolt.

"And I want to be ready for that."

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

SHOW COMMENTS