Rio Olympics 2016: Usain Bolt casually wins heat, qualifies for 200-meter semis – CBSSports.com

While competing in the first round of his favored event, the men’s 200-meter, Usain Bolt looked as relaxed as ever. While Bolt was kicking out of the blocks, as is his preference in this race, he took it easy down the stretch. Real easy.

The Jamaican sprinting star broke away from the pack fairly quickly before looking to his left and right before steadying his pace to his version of a light trot. He coasted over the finish line with the best time in his heat.

If Bolt’s run looked a little too casual, he has a good explanation.

“I knew the first round was going to be in the sun, early morning,” Bolt told NBC after his qualifying race. “I’m not a morning person.”

Bolt’s heat was at about 1 p.m. local time, but he probably had to get up earlier than he would have liked to arrive and prepare for the day’s race. It must be nice to live the life of a champion.

When asked by NBC how his body recovered from the 100-meter final he ran just two nights ago, Bolt said he can’t complain.

“I’m tired,” Bolt admitted. “But was as expected, the first one.”

With Bolt conserving his energy at the end, he wasn’t close to the world record, but could he break his own world mark of 19.19 seconds in these Olympics?

“I think the second round will determine that,” Bolt told NBC. “I think the semifinals, I can tell what shape I’m in, how I’m feeling.”

Bolt’s first-round run tied for the 15th best time of the qualifying heats.

Canadian Andre De Grasse, who won bronze in the 100-meter, finished with the best time among all first-round runners at 20.09 seconds. Jamaican Yohan Blake, one of Bolt’s primary competitors in this event, qualified for the semis with the third-best time – 20.13 seconds, while American LaShawn Merritt is into the semis after winning his heat with a time of 20.15 seconds, which tied him for fourth. Americans Justin Gatlin and Ameer Webb also qualified.

The 200-meter semis will be held Wednesday night, starting around 7 p.m. ET.