Usain Bolt withdrew from his final race before the Olympics on Thursday with what his coach called a "slight" injury problem following the Jamaican trials.
His coach, Glen Mills, said after a "careful assessment" the decision to pull Bolt from the race will give the runner "sufficient time for treatment and time to train and prepare for the Olympic Games in London."
Bolt was scheduled to run the 200 meters at the Monaco Diamond League meet on July 20. He says that the decision to not compete would not keep him from coming to London to defend his titles.
"I am happy to have earned my spot on the Jamaican Olympic team despite the challenge," Bolt said. "I will be in London to defend my titles in the 100, 200, and 4x100 meters. I want to congratulate my fellow Racers Track Club Members along with the other athletes who made the team. I thank everyone for their support."
The Olympic champion and world record-holder in the 100 and 200 meters had his right hamstring stretched out on the track after finishing second to Yohan Blake in the 200 at the Jamaican Olympic trials over the weekend. He also was beaten by Blake in the 100 meters in Kingston.
Bolt's surprising losses to Blake suggested the superstar sprinter may not be in dominant form he was at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when he powered to gold medals in the 100, 200, and 4x100 relay.
Sunday's loss in the 200, where Bolt grimaced as he crossed the line behind Blake, was the ultimate wake-up call - even if he shrugged it off.
While recognizing the threat posed by Blake, former 200 and 400 Olympic champion Michael Johnson said Bolt was still his pick for gold. The American said Bolt was capable of lowering his 100 world record of 9.58 seconds to 9.4.
''I think Usain can do whatever he wants to do," Johnson said on the website of the Laureus sports academy. "He's got that type of talent and he wants to win three gold medals again.
"If he gets to the starting line healthy, at his best, everyone else at their best, he wins every time. I mean he's just that good."
When you're an athlete like Bolt, who's dominated for nearly half a decade-you need to draw up on different motivation. Becoming the first man to truly win back-to-back 100s at an Olympics is one thing, but defeating a young upstart and reclaiming the throne is all the motivation Bolt will need.
