World C'ships: Bolt pulls up injured as Britain wins 4x100m relay

Bolt received the baton with Jamaica in third, but halfway down his leg the towering sprinter pulled up clutching his left thigh, eventually doing a forward roll to the ground, to gasps from the 60,000 sell out London Stadium.

Published : Aug 13, 2017 02:54 IST , London

Usain Bolt (centre) pulls up injured in the final of the men's 4x100m relay.
Usain Bolt (centre) pulls up injured in the final of the men's 4x100m relay.
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Usain Bolt (centre) pulls up injured in the final of the men's 4x100m relay.

Usain Bolt's glittering career swansong came crashing to an end when he pulled up on the anchor leg of the world 4x100m relay won by Britain on Saturday.

Bolt received the baton with Jamaica in third, but halfway down his leg the towering sprinter pulled up clutching his left thigh, eventually doing a forward roll to the ground, to gasps from the 60,000 sell out London Stadium.

The British quartet of Chijindu Ujah, Adam Gemili, Daniel Talbot and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake claimed gold in 37.47 seconds, with the Justin Gatlin-led US four taking silver at 0.05sec and Japan a surprise bronze (38.04).

Bolt missed out on his bid to retain his 100m title earlier in the week, losing out to Gatlin and silver medallist Christian Coleman, who ran relay anchor for the Americans on Saturday.

But hopes were high for Bolt's final competitive race, with Jamaica also boasting newly-crowned 110m hurdles champion Omar McLeod, Julian Forte and Yohan Blake in their line-up.

Jamaica were afforded a rousing welcome from the crowd, Bolt applauding the stands, with pictures of him constantly shown on the stadium's big screens.

Gatlin and the US team also including another convicted doping cheat, Mike Rodgers, and Jaylen Bacon were booed when introduced although the jeering was less than for the individual 100m event.

A close first three legs saw Britain, the United States and Jamaica level-pegged for the final leg.

But there was to be drama as a visibly swearing Bolt pulled up, allowing the Japanese quartet to nip in for third.

The result means Bolt, 100 and 200m world record holder, finishes his career with 14 world medals to go with eight Olympic golds.

PEARSON COMPLETES GOLDEN COMEBACK

Australian hurdling great Sally Pearson won the 100 metres hurdles world title for the second time on Saturday in the same stadium where she clinched 2012 Olympic gold.

The 30-year-old timed 12.59 seconds to take the crown ahead of 2008 Olympic champion Dawn Harper-Nelson (12.63sec) with Germany's Pamela Dutkiewicz, a surprise third in 12.72.

It was a remarkable comeback for the Australian as she had suffered two years of injury, missing both the 2015 world championships and the Olympics last year.

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