KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC — Usain Bolt, whose bid to defend his Olympic sprint titles was thrown in doubt by an injury scare, has been included in the Jamaica squad for the games scheduled to get under way within weeks.
Bolt, title-holder of the 100 and 200 metres as well as the 4×100 m relay, confirmed on Monday that he was given a medical exemption to make the Jamaican squad.
A hamstring injury forced him to pull out of the Jamaican Olympic track and field trials a couple weeks ago, but he was granted the exemption from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association.
The 29-year-old sprint super star, who holds the 100m and 200m world records, has been recovering from his injury in Germany, where he is receiving treatment. He sustained his injury – a grade-one tear – during the first round of the 100m in Kingston and withdrew after winning his semi-final.
The six-time Olympic champion is one of four Jamaican athletes to be given the exemption to make the 63-member team. However he is yet to prove his fitness and plans to do so at the London Diamond League meet July 22.
Bolt is aiming to become the first athlete to claim the sprint double at three consecutive Olympic Games