Panamanian, Caribbean-Roots Athletes Look To Chase Down Usain Bolt In 200-M Finals

Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after competing in the Men’s 200m Semifinals on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, RIO, Brazil, Thurs. Aug. 18, 2016: There was no doubt in any one’s mind that seven time Olympian and triple 100-m champ Usain Bolt would advance to the finals of the men’s 200-m.

After all, he insists it’s his favorite race. But what Bolt may not have expected was that Canada’s Andre De Grasse would be at his heels as he looked to wind down and claim the win in the semis.

Still, the always smiling champ took it in stride, wagging his finger jovially at the 21 year old whose roots run straight to the Caribbean. De Grasse’s athletic pedigree is impeccable. His mother Beverley de Grasse was a high school sprinter in Trinidad and Tobago before she moved to Canada at age 26 while his is father, Alex Waithe, moved from Barbados to Canada as a teenager.

Bolt will have to try to curb De Grasse tonight if he wants to reclaim his second gold in Rio and move closer to his Triple –Triple dream.

Also trying to make Bolt work will be Curacao-born Churandy Martina who runs for the Netherlands and Panama’s Alonso Edward. The US only has one contender in the race  – LaShawn Merritt – after Justin Gatlin failed to make the finals.

Race time tonight is 9:30 PM.