ZURICH – Sprint superstar Usain Bolt has ended his injury-plagued season early, after competing in just three races.
Organisers for Thursday’s Diamond League meeting in Zurich have announced that Bolt had withdrawn from the event’s 100-metre race and would not compete again this season.
The decision comes a day after the Olympic champion and world record-holder won a 100m race in Warsaw, Poland, clocking 9.98 seconds, the first time this year he ran a 100 race in under 10 seconds.
“. . . it is now time to shut it down while he is healthy and injury-free, with a view on his preparations for the 2015 season” a statement quoted Bolt’s coach Glen Mills as saying.
His absence will be a major blow to European meet organisers.
“Usain’s body has delivered tremendous performances over the last years. But it is a body and not a machine,” said Zurich meet director Patrick Magyar.
“If an athlete of that level and his coach feel more rest is needed, we are certainly not going to question this, and [we] fully support this decision.”
Bolt’s preparations for the season were disrupted by a foot injury.
His only other appearances in 2014 were in the 4×100 relay for Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and a 100 metres exhibition race in Rio de Janeiro. (CMC)
