U.S. sprinters
Justin Gatlin and
Christian Coleman finished 1-2 in yesterday's IAAF World Championships 100m final in London, with
Usain Bolt taking third place in his final individual race before retirement. Tonight's medal ceremony was "switched because athletics chiefs do not want to see a full stadium booing" Gatlin and the U.S. National Anthem. The ceremony was "originally due to be held" at 8:00pm local time but has now been moved to 6:50pm before the evening program starts. The IAAF "officially insisted that the switch has 'nothing to do with the result.'" IAAF President
Sebastian Coe said, "I’m hardly going to sit here and tell you I’m eulogistic that somebody that has served two bans in our sport would walk off with one of our glittering prizes, but he is eligible to be here" (
THEGUARDIAN.com, 8/6).
Bolt finishing third was "inconceivable," because since his first Olympic victory in '08, "no one had ever outrun him in a championship" (ESPN.com, 8/5). Gatlin entered the stadium with the "crowd's boos ringing in his ears." He is "regarded by many as the sport's villain" (CNN.com, 8/5). The 100m final drew a crowd of 55,900 at Olympic Stadium (N.Y. TIMES, 8/6).
