Rio 2016: Usain Bolt cruises to victory in Olympic 200m heats

“I hope he can say the same for me”.

Speaking to Cadena COPE, the Jamaican sprinter said that Cristiano Ronaldo being his favourite footballer, Bolt supports Real Madrid.

“I wasn’t anxious; after the semis I think my confidence went way up because I knew I executed really well. I’d really like to compete against him over 300m”, said Bolt. “I’ve recovered from the 100m”, he insisted. I feel very proud and very happy.

“When I crossed the line I looked up at the screen because I had tunnel vision and I didn’t even know where I was placed at so to see that I was second, I was honoured with that”. As we saw in his 100m heat over the weekend, the Jamaican once again had time to ease up before the line, finishing with a time of 20.28 seconds.

Unlike the frosty reception afforded him by a jeering Olympic Stadium crowd before the 100m heats and final, Gatlin was actually cheered in bright sunny conditions.

The picture was put together by a Sydney based photographer for an agency.

“The coach said “just go out there run the turn and make sure you get the lead going into the straight and keep on to it”.

Afterward, Gatlin, 34, said on NBC that bouncing back from the 100 meters semifinals and final on Sunday was as much mental as physical.

American LaShawn Merritt, who already earned a 400m bronze medal in Rio, won his 200 meters heat in 20.15 seconds.

Also shooting other athletics events at the time, Spencer had three minutes to get ready for what is being hailed as the best sports picture of the year and possibly the best capture of Bolt’s track career.

Gatlin and De Grasse moved through to the semi-finals without any trouble, clocking 20.42 and 20.09 in their heats respectively. From clicking their wining moments at the podium or preparing for the big day at practice, athletes are busy snapping and sharing their pictures on social networks.