Usain Bolt back on form with win in Italy

Friday, June 1, 2012
9:44 AM

OLYMPIC champion Usain Bolt got his London 2012 preparations back on track with an emphatic victory in the Diamond League meeting in Rome, last night.

The 25-year-old powered to victory in 9.76s having struggled to a win the week before in Ostrava with a time of 10.04s.

Bolt overcame a sluggish start to record the fastest time in the world this year and his fourth quickest ever.

Former world record holder and fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, was second in 9.91s with European champion Christopher Lemaitre third in 10.04.

“Since I’ve been in Europe I’ve not been sleeping regularly so after Ostrava I decided that I would make sure I start going to bed early,” said Bolt.

“I felt extremely well, extremely great today, so it’s coming back and I feel good.

“I wanted to show what I was capable of. Every athlete can have a bad race and last week I had a bad race. This time I ate well and slept well and felt the power in my legs.

“I was slightly nervous when I came out but when I felt the energy of the fans the jitters went away.”

From a British point of view, Robbie Grabarz, who won the high jump with a new personal best of 2.33m which takes him top of the world rankings in 2012.

Greg Rutherford also claimed victory in the long jump, but Dwain Chambers had to settle for second in his first appearance in a British relay team since 2006. His team-mates Harry-Aikines Aryeetey, James Ellington and Leevan Yearwood unable to hold off Canada on the line.

Dai Greene and Perri Shakes-Drayton pulled out of their 400m hurdles races with a virus and hamstring strain respectively.