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Sprinter Bolt bows out of Zurich athletics meet

AFP
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Sprinter Bolt bows out of Zurich athletics meet
Photo: Nick J. Webb

Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt has brought his abbreviated season to a close after racing just four times, organizers of the Diamond League final in Zurich announced on Sunday.

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Just a day after Bolt set a new best time of 9.98 seconds for the rarely-run 100-metre indoors at Warsaw's national football stadium, Zurich meet director Patrick Magyar said the star's coach Glen Millsthe decided not to take part in Thursday's final and any more races this season.

"After his 9.98 seconds performance in Warsaw last night Usain Bolt has decided to end his 2014 competition season and will not compete in the 100 metres in the IAAF Diamond League Final in Zurich," organizers said in a statement.
   
"Usain's body has delivered tremendous performances over the last years," Magyar said.
   
"But it is a body and not a machine," he said.

"If an athlete of that level and his coach feel more rest is needed, we are certainly not going to question this and fully support this decision."
   
The premature end to Bolt's season means the 28-year-old Jamaican, a six-time Olympic gold medallist and world record holder in both the 100 and 200 metres, has competed just four times this season, the start to which was delayed because of a foot injury.
   
Bolt had only run his first 100 metres of the year in an exhibition race on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach on August 17th in a time of 10.06 seconds before turning out in Warsaw on Saturday.
   
His last competitive individual appearance at the 100 metres came in Brussels last year while at last month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow he was part of the victorious Jamaican four by 100m relay team, racing in the heats and final.

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