By Jimmy Hyams
Justin Gatlin wore the crown after winning the 100-meter dash at the Track and Field World Championships in London.
But he bowed to the king of the sport after the race.
Gatlin and Usain Bolt of Jamaica have been rivals for almost a decade. Bolt is the greatest sprinter in history, setting world records in the 100 and 200 and winning nine gold medals in the Olympics in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relays.
But in Bolt’s last race of his brilliant career last weekend, the 30-year-old finished third to Gatlin, 35, and another former Tennessee runner, 21-year-old Christian Coleman.
Afterwards, Gatlin took a knee in front of Bolt to honor track’s biggest story. In an exclusive interview with SportsRadio WNML, Gatlin explained it was not a spur-of-the-moment act, but something he had thought about for days.
“I knew talking to him personally how much we have benefitted from each other throughout the years,’’ Gatlin said. “When you’ve won so many titles over and over again, you become complacent. And he’s told me himself personally that I have helped him throughout the last couple of years to rise to the occasion to run as fast as he can and to win.
“So I felt like it was my responsibility as a competitor to push him to his limit or either beat him. I’ve always said that.
“So if the time came and it was his last race, I wanted to pay homage to him. I wanted to be able to take a knee and say, `Hey, for all the things you’ve done for this sport, running crazy fast times, setting new world records, winning multiple golds,’ I wanted to pay homage to that.’’
Despite their rivalry, Gatlin said he and Bolt have a good relationship.
“There have been times we went out and partied after races,’’ Gatlin said. “I have the utmost respect for him. He’s pushed me to be the man I am today, the sprinter I am today. He’s the one that opened my eyes to say, `You know, I can run 9.7, I can run 9.6. If he’s done it, I can do it, too.’ … It may take a little longer but I’m going to get there.’’’
Coleman, having beaten Bolt in a semifinal heat, was in lane 5. Bolt was in lane 4. Gatlin was in lane 8.
Gatlin said Bolt was the first to congratulate Gatlin on the win.
“He whispered in my ear and said, `Man, I didn’t see you in Lane 8,’’ Gatlin said. “I told him, `I didn’t see you in Lane 4.’
“He said, `You deserve it. You worked hard for this. You are a classy guy. You don’t deserve all these boos in the stadium.’’’
Gatlin said the boos didn’t bother him. He figured it would happen considering Bolt’s popularity in London and that this was his farewell race.
“The last couple of years, I’ve been painted as the man in the black hat, the guy who’s trying to dethrone Usain,’’ Gatlin said. “I knew the boos were going to come of some sort. But when the boos died down, I could hear the cheers.’’
Gatlin and Coleman are the second pair from the same school to go 1-2 at the World Championships. Carl Lewis and Leroy Burrell of Houston did it in the 1980s.
But Gatlin points out there is a big difference. Lewis and Burrell were college teammates. Gatlin and Coleman are 14 years apart.
Gatlin is the oldest to ever win the 100 at the World Championships. He also won world titles 12 years apart, another first.
Not to be forgotten, he was suspended four years for taking a performance enhancing drug during the prime of his career.
“Coming back into the sport has been exciting but a hard road for me,’’ Gatlin said. “I’m just happy to be back and gain the respect of my peers, happy to be able to step on the track and be able to run at my heart’s content and be able to show the world I’m still a contender, and I’m a champion now.’’
Would Gatlin still be running if he hadn’t been away from track for four years?
“That’s a really good question,’’ said the Pensacola, Fla., native, who came to Tennessee as a hurdler/sprinter. “When it comes to being satisfied, I think I still would have pushed and worked hard – and I think I would have retired.
“But I love the competition, guys. I love it. I love seeing young guys come up and learn and become faster. I love going head-to-head with these guys out here every weekend around the world. That’s the addiction thing to me – the competition. That’s what I’m going to miss the most when I retire.’’
As the world champion, he has a direct invite into the next games in 2019. As for the 2020 Olympics, he’ll run in 2019 and see where he is.
As for Coleman, Gatlin gushes with excitement.
“I’m over the moon for him,’’ Gatlin said. “He’s an outstanding young man. Kind guy. Respectable guy. I’m talking about the guy off the track. When you talk about on the track, he’s a young beast. A young beast.
“He’s the only guy who can say in history he’s undefeated against Usain Bolt (going 2-0). He showed no fear and all guts and glory when he stepped on that line.’’
Coleman beat Bolt in the 100 semifinals heat and in the finals by the same margin, 9.94 to 9.95 both times.
Will Coleman one day win gold in the Olympics?
“I believe so,’’ Gatlin said. “I don’t see why this guy can not. He just impresses me, man. He impresses me so much on a daily basis. He’s so head strong. I can see him being the next dominant sprinter in track and field around the world, period.’’
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