Justin Gatlin at peace with end of career, Usain Bolt rivalry
RIO DE JANEIRO — It was hard to tell Justin Gatlin had just failed to advance to the 200 meters finals. Hard to tell his individual Olympics track career had just come to an end. Hard to tell he felt resentment about being cast as the foil for Usain Bolt in the sprints at the Rio Games.
Gatlin, 34, looked at peace after finishing third in his 200 semifinal heat, one spot shy of qualifying for the final and a last head-to-head race with Bolt.
“It’s a showman’s sport,’’ Gatlin said Wednesday night. “I think the rivalry that I have with Usain and myself has turned it into a professional-wrestling feel. You know, everyone’s cheering for Usain but they have to have someone they’ve got to boo against.’’
The boos weren’t all about Bolt, of course.
Gatlin served a one-year ban for testing positive in 2001 for a banned substance. Five years later, after winning the gold medal in the 100 at 2004 Athens Games, he tested positive for yet another banned substance. This time he got hit with a four-year ban.
But once again Gatlin regained his eligibility and his form, winning a bronze in the 100 at the 2012 Games in London and winning the silver in the 100 here.
“At the end of the day, I think that a lot of people saw how hard I worked,’’ he said. “And I’ve gained a lot of respect from a lot of the fans, when they come out and see me, even people not from the United States, when they come out there and cheer me and give me heart gestures and cheer for USA. That’s all I ask for because that’s what sport is built on: respect."
Gatlin expects to race Bolt one last time, but as part of the 4x100 relays. But on Wednesday night, he seemed less concerned with winning than changing the perception that he is someone who deserves to be booed.
“I respect my competitors, you know, I get respect back from them,’’ he said. “I respect people out there who pay for their tickets to come watch us compete. And I respect the reporters because they’ve got to come out here and tell a good story. That’s what it is. It’s just a cycle of respect.’’