Injured Usain Bolt withdraws from Jamaican trials, could still qualify for Rio Olympics

Two-time 100-meter Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt withdrew from the Jamaican Olympic Trials on Friday due to a hamstring injury. Bolt breezed through his semifinal heat with a time of 10.04 seconds, but after a tightening of his hamstring, he was forced to pull out of the final and was excused from the remainder of the trials, which also serve as the Jamaican National Championships.

Bolt is applying for a medical exemption, and the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association has discretion in these matters. If an athlete can prove that an injury prevented them from competing at the trials and they show in advance of the upcoming Olympics that they are healthy enough to compete, they can still earn a spot on the team.

Bolt issued a statement on Twitter following his injury, saying that he was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring tear. He claims he will seek treatment “immediately” and that he will try to show the JAAA that he is fit to compete at the London Anniversary Games, which begin on July 22.

Bolt previously planned on running the 200-meter race at the London Games, and was expected to compete in Rio in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100-meter relay races. He is the defending champion in all three races.

If healthy in time, there is no reason to assume that the JAAA will prevent him from competing in Rio. Bolt has six gold medals in sprinting and is an 11-time World champion.