Olympic champions Kirani James and Greg Rutherford brought world-class performances to the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday, while Usain Bolt hit back at claims that he had made disparaging remarks about the event.
James won the men’s 400m to give Grenada their first Commonwealth gold and become the first man to win a gold medal in the discipline at both Olympic and Commonwealth levels.
“I am happy for my country and everyone affiliated to us,” said the 21-year-old, who took gold ahead of Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa and Trinidad and Toboga’s Lalonde Gordon.
Photo: Reuters
England’s Rutherford, 27, backed up his Olympic long jump gold in 2012 by snagging the Commonwealth title.
His leap of 8.20m was enough to defeat South Africa’s Zarck Visser by 8cm, with Rushwahl Samaai — also of South Africa — taking bronze.
Elsewhere, Canada’s Derek Drouin won the men’s high jump to add to his Olympic bronze.
Kenya swept the women’s 3000m steeplechase with Purity Cherotich Kirui leading home Milcah Chemos Cheywa and Joan Kipkemoi.
In the heptathlon, there was a Canadian one-two courtesy of Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Jessica Zelinka, while in the shot put, New Zealand’s Valerie Adams once again showcased her unbeatable talent, adding a third Commonwealth crown to two Olympic and four world gold medals, easily beating the field with her second effort of 19.88m.
Australia’s world silver medalist Kim Mickle threw a Games record of 65.96m to win the women’s javelin, a perfect boost after the country’s athletics federation earlier suspended head coach Eric Hollingsworth for disparaging comments about the team’s star hurdler, Sally Pearson.
Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha was also on show on Wednesday, qualifying for yesterday’s final in a cool gun-to-tape semi-final victory.
Earlier on Wednesday, Jamaica’s Warren Weir, the 200m favorite in the absence of compatriot Bolt, cruised through his heat in a comfortable time of 20.71 seconds.
Also qualifying for the semi-finals were Daniel Bailey of Antigua and South African Wayde van Niekerk.
Bolt was irate after the Times newspaper reported that he had called the Glasgow Games “a bit shit,” ahead of his appearance in the 4x100m relay.
Asked if he was having a good time in the Scottish city, the 100m and 200m Olympic champion and world record holder reportedly replied “not really” and said that the London 2012 Olympics “were better.”
Yet Bolt and his manager later called the claims “rubbish” and the athlete took to Twitter to deny the report.
“I’m waking up to this nonsense ... journalist please don’t create lies to make headlines,” Bolt wrote.
The sprint superstar was later seen cheering on the Jamaica netball team in a group game against New Zealand, where he joined in a Mexican wave and told reporters the Games were “awesome.”
In the diving competition taking place in Edinburgh, favored Canadian pair Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion took gold in the women’s synchronized 10m platform.
England took the day’s other two golds, with Jack Laugher in the men’s 1m springboard, while the women’s 3m synchronized springboard title went to Alicia Blagg and Rebecca Gallantree.
In gymnastics, England’s Max Whitlock won the men’s individual all-around final, while compatriot Claudia Fragapane led an England one-two-three in the women’s event.
Also on the day, Canada and Nigeria dominated freestyle wrestling.
David Trembley took the men’s under-61kg title, with Arjun Gill claiming gold in the under-97kg division and victory in the women’s under-69kg going to Dori Yeats.
Nigeria’s Odunayo Adekuoroye took the women’s under-53kg and Aminat Adeniyi the under-58kg title/
Maryam Usman claimed gold for Nigeria in women’s over-75kg weightlifting, with defending champion Ele Opeloge of Samoa taking silver, just six months after giving birth.
David Katoatau won the tiny Pacific island nation of Kiribati’s first-ever medal at the Games as he claimed gold in men’s 105kg weightlifting.
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