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'Lightning' Bolt sizzles in rain
Agencies
Jun 11 2011 9:21
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Agencies
South Africa's Caster Semenya competes in the women's 800m at the Diamond League's Bislett Games.

OSLO — Usain Bolt cruised to his 14th successive 200m victory at the Bislett Games, but then warned critics of his early-season form that he was "only human".

Bolt has failed to hit the highs he set when first exploding to triple Olympic gold at the Beijing Games, all in world record times, and then also securing a golden treble at the Berlin Worlds a year later, re-setting the 100m and 200m records in the process.

Last season was pretty much a write-off, with the 24-year-old athlete sitting out six weeks in summer with an achilles tendon problem that saw him cede his 100m No 1 ranking to American archrival Tyson Gay.

The lanky Jamaican, who dominated the field on Thursday to win in 19.86 seconds, is now back on the circuit but insisting that he needed time to properly get back into race mode from his injury.

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    "It's always good to finish a race because it shows I'm in good shape. And I finished injury-free, that's key," Bolt said after his Oslo victory. "It's not the old Usain Bolt but I'm getting there. That's a good look for me and I'm very happy."

    He said: "People expect too much from me. Yes, I set a high standard for myself, but I'm only human. So I got injured and am taking my time working my way back up. You take steps, you never just jump. I'm feeling good and I'm getting there."

    Bolt denied he was feeling under pressure in the build-up to the Aug 27-Sept 4 World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

    "There's never pressure for me. It's two-and-a-half months to go. I have nothing to worry about. My coach (Glen Mills) is not worried so I'm not worried.

    "I know, what I need to do: go home, execute and try as much as possible to stay injury-free. Get injured now and I'm back to square one.

    "So the focus is on staying injury-free and getting the ticket to the top."

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