Chronicle Editor
Cape Town — Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt has been backed to end his illustrious career on a golden note with victory in today’s men’s 100m final at the IAAF World Championships in London.
Bolt will run in his final ever competitive 100m race at the Olympic Stadium — the scene of his 100m victory at the 2012 London Olympics.
Bolt will also contest the men’s 4x100m relay later in the championships, but will sit out the 200m, a race, much like the 100m, in which he’s also the world record holder.
Although not in vintage early season form, leading bookmakers Sportingbet have installed the soon-to-be 31-year-old as 1/4 favourite.
Bolt’s great rival, American Justin Gatlin, is next best at 6/1, followed by Jamaican Yohan Blake (11/2) and rising American star Christian Coleman (8/1).
South Africa’s Akani Simbine is an attractive-looking 50/1 for gold.
Simbine memorably finished fifth in the 100m final at last year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in a time of 9.94 — only 0.13 behind winner Bolt and 0.03 adrift of bronze medal winner, Canada’s Andre de Grasse. —Sport24.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter