Bolt salutes the SA sprint brigade

– Olympic legend Usain Bolt had nothing but praise for South Africa’s sprinting emergence on the world stage after Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruintjies upstaged his Jamaican compatriot Yohan Blake at the Commonwealth Games earlier this week.

South Africa claimed an upset one-two finish in the 100m final with Simbine taking gold and Bruintjies silver, with Blake having to settle for bronze, rubbing salt into Jamaican wounds in the first major competition since Bolt retired from the sport. He is attending the Games in an ambassadorial role.

“One of my friends called me and said ‘the South Africans are the kings of sprint’ and what can I say? They really showed up,” said Bolt, who is also a vocal admirer of 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk.

“South African athletes have shown they’re ready for the world and as Jamaicans we have to keep our eyes open.”

Bolt promised to talk to Blake about the pressures of becoming Jamaica’s main man in his absence.

“I’m waiting until I go to the village and actually see him because I’m definitely going to make fun of him and stuff like that – that’s definitely going to be a good conversation!

“It was a little bit shocking Blake didn’t win. I think Blake stumbled a little bit but probably panicked – that’s always one of the toughest things.

“He understands the pressure. I will bring it up when I see him – but I will make fun of him first,” added the 100m and 200m world record holder, who arrived in the Gold Coast on Wednesday night and headed straight for a local nightclub where he partied until the early hours of the morning. – AFP

Gold Coast