No offense to Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, but the Main Event of the Rio Games arrived just after noon here on Saturday and he didn’t disappoint.
Usain Bolt is in the house, trying to turn a third Olympic Stadium on a third continent into his house, electrifying Rio like he did London and Beijing before it.
The Jamaican breezed through the first round of the 100 meters, the signature event of the signature competition (athletics) of the Olympics. He rang up a time of 10.07 to easily qualify for the semifinals, which will be held at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday. The finals are scheduled for 9:25 ET.
Bolt essentially jogged through the second half of the race, looking around to see if anyone could even challenge him. When Andrew Fisher of Bahrain began to inch up, Bolt simply sped up a little, essentially toying with a man who would finish in 10.12.
This was classic Bolt, laying down the psychological warfare and letting everyone here know that despite dealing with injury and inactivity he is still in control, still capable of much, much more.
“It wasn’t the best start,” Bolt said. “I felt kind of slow.”
Slow, sure.
Bolt is attempting the unprecedented — a third consecutive Olympic 100-meter gold — to extend his title as Fastest Man on Earth. That will require speed, for sure, but, with his 30th birthday in just eight days (August 21), this isn’t the same sure thing it was in the past.
