Disappointed Bolt says ready to move on

By Yoo Jee-ho
DAEGU, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- A day after getting disqualified for a false start in the men's 100-meter final at the World Championships in Athletics here, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt on Monday said he will not "dwell on the past."
In a statement issued through his management, Bolt said he was "extremely disappointed" to have blown the chance to defend his world title.
"I was feeling great through the rounds and was ready to run fast in the final," said Bolt, the 2008 Olympic champion who owns the world record of 9.53 seconds in the 100節?. He had cruised into the final, despite slowing over the final stretch in both the heat and the semifinal races.
"I worked very hard to get ready for this championships and things were looking good," Bolt added. "However, I have to move on now as there is no point to dwell on the past."
After the disqualification Monday, Bolt left Daegu Stadium without discussing the incident, only telling a small group of reporters, "Looking for tears? Not going to happen. I am OK."
Bolt still has two more races here with 200節? on Friday and 4x100節? relay on Sunday. He also won the 200 at the previous world championships in Berlin with the world record of 19.19, and won the relay with his Jamaican teammates.
"I have a few days to refocus and get ready for the 200節? on Friday," he said. "After this I have the 4x100節? and a few other races before the end of the season. I know that I am now in good shape and will focus on running well in the 200節?."
Bolt's elimination added an anticlimactic twist to an event already missing some big names. Former world record holder Asafa Powell and 2007 world champion Tyson Gay both missed the 100節? due to injuries.
The fuss over the false start overshadowed Jamaican Yohan Blake's first world title at 9.92. Bolt congratulated Blake, also his training partner, and other medalists from the 100節?, Walter Dix of the U.S. and Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Bolt finally emerged from the athletes' village late Monday afternoon and began practicing for the relay, along with Blake, Powell and Nesta Carter.
Dwain Chambers, former European champion in the men's 100節?, also got disqualified for a false start in the semis Sunday. Christine Ohuruogu, the Olympic champion in the women's 400節?, suffered the same fate in her heat on Saturday.
Bolt's false start has sparked a controversy over the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rule that disqualifies athletes after one false start. Previously, after one false start, the second runner to commit the foul was disqualified, regardless of who jumped the gun for the first violation.
The Daegu competition is the first world championships where the new rule has applied.
jeeho@yna.co.kr