Gatlin, Blake Blame Organisers for Usain Bolt’s Fall in Final Race

Despite falling, Usain Bolt crossed the finish line with help from his teammates.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt reacts as he pulls up injured in the Men’s 4x100 meters relay final at the World Athletics Championships in London

(Photo: AP)

Usain Bolt's unparalleled career ended in extraordinary drama on Saturday as he pulled up with injury on the anchor leg of his very last race, the 4x100 metres relay final at the World Championships.

The 30-year-old had taken the baton for Jamaica a few metres adrift of the two leaders when, straining hard to catch them, he stopped abruptly with cramp in his left hamstring, began hobbling and tumbled to a halt after a forward roll.

Bolt's team mates complained that a 45-minute wait in the call room before the race had hampered their preparations.

It was 40 minutes and two medal presentations before our run ... we were kept 40 minutes. It was crazy. They were holding us too long. We keep warming up and waiting, then warming up and waiting. I think it got the better of us. It hurts to see a true legend, a true champion go out there and struggle like that.

Yohan Blake

American Justin Gatlin agreed with the complaints of the Jamaican relay team.

Bolt, having been passed the baton by Yohan Blake, was in third behind Great Britain and the United States, who eventually won gold and silver, but pulled up almost 50 metres from the line and fell to the track.

I know it’s TV magic, and everybody has to be prepared on time to make everything happen for the viewers at home. (But) I personally think that we were held in the stadium a little too long without our clothes on, and there was a little draught in there. I lost all my sweat and body heat.

Justin Gatlin