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Usain Bolt out after jumping the gun in 100 finals
Still fuming from his false start, Usain Bolt crouched on the line and waited, and waited, before zipping into the darkness of a dimly lit practice facility
AP Published in Ahram Online on 28 - 08 - 2011

Here, at the deserted track, no gun to jump. Here, only a short hike from the main stadium, no adoring fans to show off to and entertain, either.
That was all he had, though.
Bolt missed out on defending his title when he jumped out of the blocks early in the 100-meter final Sunday at the world championships. He was disqualified by a highly debated zero-tolerance false start rule that was enacted last year.
"He's human, isn't he? I always knew he was human," said his coach, Glen Mills. "He will pick himself up. He's a champion." Just not on this night.
Bolt knew instantly it was his error, too. Soon after the gun went off, soon after taking a few steps out of the blocks, another gun blasted _ the knot-in-your-stomach sound for any sprinter.
Bolt's eyes grew big. He pulled his shirt over his face, then ripped it off and whipped it around in his hand.
Grudgingly, Bolt left the stage he has dominated since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The show went on even with the face of track no longer around.
And instead of Bolt being the Jamaican to take the title and wrap himself in the country's flag, it was teammate Yohan Blake, a 21-year-old up-and-comer that former Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene even predicted to win.
Blake finished in a modest time of 9.92 seconds, .16 seconds ahead of American rival Walter Dix. Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the 2003 world champion and now an aging 35-year-old veteran, was third.
"Definitely I wasn't focusing on beating Usain," Blake said. "I was just focusing on finishing in the top three." So was everyone else, especially with how dominant the world-record holder looked in his previous two rounds.
This entire competition was setting up as a stroll in the park for Bolt. Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell withdrew just before the event began due to a groin injury and American rival Tyson Gay was out with a hip injury.
And then Bolt false started. It wasn't even close. He's tall and it's rather obvious when he stands up in the blocks too soon.
Then again, Bolt has always had a flair for the dramatic.
His night done, Bolt gathered his stuff, slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed down the tunnel that leads out of the stadium.
He wouldn't talk, glaring at anyone who got too close or tried to ask any sort of question as he walked up an inclined path.
Clearly miffed, Bolt went through a fenced gate that leads to the warmup track, typically off limits to all but the competitors.
Once there, he went over to a group of friends and coaches, throwing down his backpack, taking a swig of bottled water, dumping some on his head and then tossing it aside. He sat down for a second before jumping up and heading onto the track.
Bolt lined up in Lane 6 _ one spot away from his lane assignment in the final _ waited a second to compose his thoughts and took off down the runway. He traveled about 100 meters, turned around, jogged back and went again.
Four times he repeated that. Four times he paused at the starting line.
He was getting back on the horse again.
After his cool-down and a quick massage, Bolt trudged across a grass field to an awaiting vehicle, ready to pull away with the star inside.
Before he could reach the safety of the BMW, though, he was confronted by a few reporters, eager to get his take on the costly mistake.
"Looking for tears? Not going to happen," said Bolt, whose agitation was beginning to subside. "I'm OK." Enough to run the 200 meters? "You'll see on Friday," he said, referring to the start date of the race.
Change the false start rule? Silence.
And then the car ushered him away, leaving others to discuss the situation.
"I didn't really think they were going to kick him out," Dix said. "How can you kick Usain out of the race?" This 100 will be known not so much for Blake's crowning achievement but as the one in which Bolt jumped the gun.
Blake's win might just be a footnote.
"I didn't expect that from him," Blake said. "I had to just keep my head, keep the focus and get the job done for Jamaica." Just like Bolt had done so many times before.

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