Usain Bolt press conferences are always worth going to. Usually he's in a jovial, celebratory mood, but even tonight with a 3rd place finish, he could make people laugh as he took offense at a reporter's question.
That occurred tonight when a journalist asked the medallists if they thought the slower sprint times at this year’s Worlds were because of stronger anti-doping controls and Usain Bolt took offense.  The journalist pointed out that this was the slowest 100m winning time since 2003, and "the marks in general were much slower than the last edition of the world championships and I'd like to know from you guys if you think there is any kind of relationship (with the slower times) from a stronger anti doping control.â€
Bolt interjected, "Wo, Wo, Woa what? What's she saying?â€
The journalists started to talk again and Bolt said, "I heard  you but what?"
She then explained there were 21 sub 10 times at the Beijing Worlds and less than 10 here. As she was explaining herself, Bolt signalled to the other two medallists that he wanted to answer the question.
He then said, “First of all I'm sure  everyone up here takes that (as) very disrespectful. You know what I mean. I, we've worked hard. Justin has done his time throughout the years and he's proven himself over and over again. I've proven myself over and over again. The young kid just coming in, Coleman, has done great. He's performed himself to show the world to show he's going to be a great athlete. There's something called injury and sometimes everything don't go (as) smoothly as you want to, there's negative wind. There's so much different things (that can affect the 100), so for you to just directly say something or state something  to all 3 of us like that I take that disrespectfully, you know what I mean? Because we've done so much great things throughout the years. Yes it's slow but we came out and we put on a good show for everybody, you now what I mean? (Pause) Wow."
Gatlin then spoke, "As athletes regardless of what the sport is we're human being still. We have to perform. We work hard. We train everyday as you all are sitting typing on your computers... Of course sometimes our times are not going to be the best.... We push ourselves to the best we can do and tonight that was the best the world could give and we still made it the most exciting race you've probably seen all year and it was so close. So I don't think it's an algorithm to an anti-doping issue."
Coleman was then asked by the moderator if he had anything to add and he deadpanned, "I think they pretty much said it all" as the room erupted in laughter.
It's worth a watch. Â Bolt can be very charming and funny and he was here, even as he took offense at the reporter's question. The clip below is set to start at the relevant point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQkSyKv9BI&start=389
Most Entertaining Part of Press Conference: Usain Bolt Takes Offense at Reporters Anti-Doping Question
Report Thread
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Drug cheat.
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This reporter hit the nail on the head. The fastest clean time is probably somewhere around 9.75-9.80
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Turn the wind around and increase the temp/humidity and this WAS 9.75.
Bolt is correct. Reporter clueless.
Brojos completely clueless. -
stick to distance running wrote:
Turn the wind around and increase the temp/humidity and this WAS 9.75.
Bolt is correct. Reporter clueless.
Brojos completely clueless.
Call me in ten years when then truth comes out. Again. Then we shall see who is clueless. -
It has not been just in London. For the entire year so far only Coleman has gone under 9.90. 6-10 years ago, never less than five did so. In 2011,
*NINE *guys were under 9.90.
The reporter is right on the money, which gets Bolt defensive. The main difference between him and Lance Armstrong is he is so likeable. Perhaps his most potent weapon in the bigger picture. -
stick to distance running wrote:
Turn the wind around and increase the temp/humidity and this WAS 9.75.
Bolt is correct. Reporter clueless.
Brojos completely clueless.
The point was times have stunk all season. -
gjkgjhgjkhg wrote:
This reporter hit the nail on the head. The fastest clean time is probably somewhere around 9.75-9.80
I doubt that it is anywhere near that fast. -
Great question. Well done to the reporter.
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Does Bolt have selective amnesia? All his Jamaican team mates have been done for Peds and he takes offense when questions are asked? All athletes have to deal with this thanks to the fact that most sprint medals for the past 30 years are tainted.
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"Justin has proven himself over and over again"? I don't know if it very convincing to use Justin Gatlin for your "we-are-all-clean-argument". It was a fair question from the reporter. What does Bolt think where he is? Does he expect not more than "you are wonderful, great show, what are you doing today..."?
I liked Bolt (as most) at the beginning, but not anymore. -
Sanctify wrote:
It has not been just in London. For the entire year so far only Coleman has gone under 9.90. 6-10 years ago, never less than five did so. In 2011,
*NINE *guys were under 9.90.
The reporter is right on the money, which gets Bolt defensive. The main difference between him and Lance Armstrong is he is so likeable. Perhaps his most potent weapon in the bigger picture.
Exactly! -
Gatlin comes across as pretty classy I think.
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A classy drug cheat. Actually, he came across like an obnoxious drug cheat.
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There's nothing funny about what he said, except he showed up what fools the journalists are.
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Bolt is right .. wrote:
There's nothing funny about what he said, except he showed up what fools the journalists are.
So what you're saying is that the issue of doping should never be brought up either to Usain Bolt or regarding Usain Bolt?
Do you work for the IAAF? -
Sndndn wrote:
stick to distance running wrote:
Turn the wind around and increase the temp/humidity and this WAS 9.75.
Bolt is correct. Reporter clueless.
Brojos completely clueless.
Call me in ten years when then truth comes out. Again. Then we shall see who is clueless.
I wouldn't say Bolt is highly suspicious. Yes some of his countrymen have tested positive, yes he has run absurdly fast and yes JADCO have been criticised in the past but sometimes you do come across freaks of nature. He's been consistently good and competes frequently enough on the circuit (i.e. Doesn't pull an Ayana in 2017) to provide me with confidence that he is subjected to sufficient testing. I've not come across any convincing articles / evidence linking Bolt to drugs. Obviously it would be a great shame if it ever emerged he had cheated and this only fuels the tinfoil hat wearers with their conspiracy theories. -
Replay the video. Check out the body gestures (and non-verbal Communication) of the trio after the question was made.
But really. The reactions and body language said it all. In the case of Coleman, it is very suspicious. -
Sanctify wrote:
It has not been just in London. For the entire year so far only Coleman has gone under 9.90. 6-10 years ago, never less than five did so. In 2011,
*NINE *guys were under 9.90.
The reporter is right on the money, which gets Bolt defensive. The main difference between him and Lance Armstrong is he is so likeable. Perhaps his most potent weapon in the bigger picture.
Wrong. Times sucked because people got old. Look at the people responsible for the top times:
Bolt - old
Blake - old, and just not the same after injury and surgery, despite some healing
Gatlin - old
Gay - old, and dealing with personal tragedy
Powell - old
Carter - old
Greene - retired
...and that's it -- every time below 9.80 is from just those guys. If you go into the 9.80 - 9.89 range, you see the same things (old or retired guys), with 4 exceptions: Bromell, Coleman, Vicaut, and Simbine. The last 3 of those guys were in the final, and the rounds probably took their tolls. -
amateur hours wrote:
stick to distance running wrote:
Turn the wind around and increase the temp/humidity and this WAS 9.75.
Bolt is correct. Reporter clueless.
Brojos completely clueless.
The point was times have stunk all season.
Point IS that this was a 9.75 race under good conditions.
Brojos clueless
