Usain Bolt’s 200m win makes up for 100m failure

The Jamaican finished ahead of American Walter Dix, who came second, and third-placed Christophe Lemaitre of France.

Bolt’s time was the fourth fastest 200m in history. Only two men, Bolt and Michael Johnson, have ever run the 200m in 19.40 seconds or less.

Last week Bolt suffered the humiliation of disqualification from the 100m final in Daegu, South Korea, when he false-started.

It led to calls for athletics administrators to re-examine the new rule, which bans a runner from a race if he or she makes a single false start.

Despite last Sunday’s failure, Bolt looked relaxed before today’s final, putting his fingers to his lips to hush the crowd as the runners took their marks.

New video shows Usain Bolt's anger after 100m false start

Bolt burst from the starting block and was leading the race by the time the sprinters turned into the home straight.

Aftwards he paid tribute to Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre, who clocked a time of 19.80 seconds.

“It is good to run a good 200. It is my favourite event,” he said. “I said over the years that Christophe was going to be a good athlete.”

Elsewhere on the track, there was disappointment for Britain’s Tiffany Porter, who clipped a hurdle in the 100m hurdles final to finish fourth. The face was won by Sally Pearson of Australia.

Today is the penultimate day of the championships, which conclude tomorrow with the men’s 4 x 100m relay.