Canada

Who Can Beat Usain Bolt?

All eyes were on Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin during the 100m final at the 2015 World Championships.

Injuries made Bolt seem beatable. He had his 2014 season cut short in March due to foot surgery. Then he missed time in 2015 with a left leg injury.

Gatlin, on the other hand, was healthy and the fastest man in the world in 2014 and 2015. He had not lost a race in nearly two years entering the 2015 World Championships, and many predicted he would finally defeat his rival for the first time in an Olympic or Worlds 100m final. 

Gatlin seemed to stumble during his final few strides, however, and Bolt won the race by .01 seconds. 

“I believe they missed the chance of beating Bolt,” said Maurice Greene, the 2000 Olympic 100m champion. “[2015] was the year to do it.”

Gatlin will have another shot at Bolt tonight at the 2016 Olympics. 

Four sprinters who have set their sights on beating Bolt, who clocked 10.07 seconds in the first round of the 100m on Saturday:

Yohan Blake (JAM)
First round: 10.11 seconds

Blake is the joint second-fastest man of all time in the 100m. He has been slowed in recent years by hamstring injuries, but this year he covered 100m in under 10 seconds for the first time since 2012. 

Trayvon Bromell (USA)
First round: 10.13 seconds

Bromell tied with Andre De Grasse for the 100m bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships, behind Bolt and Gatlin. Bromell owns the 100m world junior record, while Bolt holds the 200m world junior record.  

Justin Gatlin (USA)
First round: 10.01 seconds

Gatlin clocked the fastest time of the year, 9.80 seconds. He also had the best time in the first round of the 100m in Rio.

Andre De Grasse (CAN)
First round: 10.04 seconds

De Grasse is very familiar with Bolt. Bolt visited De Grasse at the University of Southern California, and they are both Puma athletes. De Grasse tuned heads when he ran a wind-aided 9.75 seconds to win the 2015 NCAA 100m title. 

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