BEIJING, China (AFP) — Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin will renew their sprint rivalry in the world championships 200m heats on Tuesday, two days after their explosive 100m showdown in Beijing.
World record-holder David Rudisha will go for gold in the men’s 800m and Genzebe Dibaba is favourite in the women’s 1500m in a star-studded programme at the Bird’s Nest stadium.
But attention will inevitably focus on Jamaica’s Bolt, who narrowly beat two-time doping offender Gatlin in Sunday’s 100m final to strike a symbolic blow for clean athletics.
The 200m is Bolt’s preferred event and the lanky showman will be seeking a fourth consecutive title after having previously triumphed in Berlin, Daegu and Moscow.
“I went to see my coach (Glen Mills) after the (100m) semi-final and he told me ‘You’re thinking about it too much’,” Bolt said on Sunday.
“And he is right because I know exactly what to do. I guess this recipe of confidence will also work for the 200m.”