YOUNG, ambitious sprinters hoping to somehow beat Mr Usain Bolt would have had second thoughts after yesterday’s gold medal run in the IAAF World Championships 200 metres.

Halfway through the half-lap race it was already clear that Mr Bolt would win easily. As it turned out, he was smiling and celebrating long before crossing the line in 19.55 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

We are all left to wonder how fast Mr Bolt would have gone, had he chosen to grit his teeth and run hard all the way through the finish line. Surely he would have gone under 19.40 seconds. But could he have challenged 19.30? We will never know.

As it was, the Jamaican team management, focused on the upcoming men’s sprint relays, was probably pleased that their most valuable asset held himself back.

All this came against the backdrop that immediately after his spectacular 100m victory over Mr Justin Gatlin on the weekend, there was serious concern being expressed about Mr Bolt’s readiness for the 200m.

Citing available hard evidence, many analysts quite reasonably argued that as much as he was able to mentally overwhelm Mr Gatlin in the 100m, Mr Bolt’s race-rustiness would have been exposed by the razor-sharp American over the longer distance.

Mr Bolt and his coach, Mr Glen Mills, clearly had their own doubts. Immediately after his 100m triumph and again after the first heat of the 200m a “tired” Mr Bolt appeared to project a wait-and-see attitude.

And Mr Mills wondered if Mr Bolt’s exertions in the 100m — especially in the semi-final when he had to give his all to recover from a near catastrophic stumble — may not have taken too much out of him. Mr Mills made it very clear that the various issues that had negatively affected Mr Bolt over recent months meant his preparations for the 200m were far from ideal.

A day later, immediately after Mr Bolt’s relaxed performance in the 200m semi-final, the mood had dramatically changed. Mr Bolt told Jamaicans via TVJ that his body was now feeling good. He was “ready” and would not allow Mr Gatlin to beat him.

Many would have recognised there and then that it was all over bar the shouting. While his victory in the 100m reflected Mr Bolt’s mental strength as much as anything else, yesterday’s triumph demonstrated his pure, unbelievable, God-given talent.

So then, how ready was Mr Bolt yesterday? Was he at 70 per cent, 80 per cent? It would be interesting to hear the coach’s assessment.

Clearly, once he stays healthy, Mr Bolt will be aiming to be at 100 per cent in terms of fitness and form come next year’s Olympic Games — which will surely be his last — in Rio de Janeiro. Mr Bolt has already established himself beyond any doubt as the greatest sprinter of all time. He is, in fact, among the greatest sporting competitors ever. So what’s left to prove?

Surely, he will consider aiming to break his own World Records of 9.58 seconds over 100m and 19.19 in the 200m. Readers will recall that Mr Bolt has on occasions spoken of a desire to break the 19-second barrier.

We await Rio with bated breath.