6th July, 2013
Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt raced to a world-leading time of 19.73 seconds in the 200m at the Diamond League meet in Paris on Saturday.
It was the 26-year-old’s second outing over his favoured event this season after clocking 19.79sec at Oslo on June 13.
In the meantime, American rival Tyson Gay had raced 19.74sec in winning the US championships in Des Moines last month.
“That’s good, I’m happy with myself,” said Bolt, the world record holder in both sprint events, and six-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion.
Wearing a blue and gold peppered sleeveless shirt, black shorts, and white and blue shoes, Bolt looked as if he meant business at the Stade de France.
Unlike his experience in the Norwegian capital, he and the 50,000 spectators packed into the stadium north of Paris enjoyed balmy conditions, with temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius (81F).
After an average start reaction time, Bolt exploded into the corner and was up on compatriot Warren Weir in lane seven within 10 paces.
As he rounded the bend, Weir looked like he would resume parity, but teeth clenched and at full tilt, Bolt destroyed the field in the final 40 metres to set a new meeting record, the previous best of 20.01sec set by US track legend Michael Johnson in 1990.
Olympic bronze medallist Weir claimed second place in 19.92sec, with France’s Christophe Lemaitre finishing third in a season’s best of 20.07.