BEIJING (AP) — The Latest from the IAAF world championships (all times local):
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11:35 p.m.
After being taken down by a cameraman following his latest gold-medal performance, Usain Bolt jokingly blamed rival Justin Gatlin for the accident.
"The rumor I'm trying to start right now is that Justin Gatlin paid him off. So, that's what I'm going with," Bolt said, with Gatlin sitting right next to him.
The offending cameraman hit a metal rail on the side of the track and veered right into the back of Bolt. He hit the Jamaican in the legs and both fell backward onto the track.
Bolt won his second gold medal of the world championships on Thursday, taking first in the 200 meters at the Bird's Nest. Like in the 100, Gatlin finished second.0:25 p.m.
Tori Bowie, the bronze medalist in the 100 meters at the world championships, has been informed she cannot run in the relays for the Americans because she was absent from a training camp in Japan earlier this month.
According to Bowie's agent, Bowie attended a relay camp in Monaco earlier this summer, but because she missed a camp in Narita, Japan, in the lead-up to worlds, USA Track and Field informed the sprinter it was against policy to allow her to run in the relays.
"Of course, she would love to run the relay and support her country," said Bowie's agent, Kimberly Holland.
USATF did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking information about Bowie's status.
Shortly after winning another 200-meter race at the world championships, Usain Bolt was accidentally taken down by a clumsy cameraman on a two-wheel vehicle.
Shortly after winning another 200-meter race at the world championships, Usain Bolt was accidentally taken down by a clumsy cameraman on a two-wheel vehicle.
With Bolt taking in the adoration of the crowd at the Bird's Nest, the cameraman hit a metal rail on the side of the track and veered right into Bolt. He hit Bolt in the legs from behind and both fell backward to the track.
Bolt appeared unscathed.
9:15 p.m.
An upcoming kidney transplant is weighing on American hurdler Aries Merritt. But racing provides a nice distraction as the Olympic champion advanced to the final at the world championships.
The world-record holder had the fastest time in the semifinal round.
Four days after the final, Merritt will have surgery back home in Phoenix.
"What happens after the finish line (Friday) definitely scares me," Merritt said. "It's tough and scary. I can't focus on that right now.
"I have to take my mind off of what's going on with my physical condition and be mentally tough in this final."8:57 p.m.
Usain Bolt won the 200 meters in 19.55 seconds Thursday to complete another sprint double at the world championships, again holding off Justin Gatlin.
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At least the trip to the hospital in an ambulance gave South African 400-meter champion Wayde van Niekerk a chance to catch his breath.
He was that exhausted after his race at the world championships. Doing just fine a day later, van Niekerk returned to the Bird's Nest on Thursday to receive his gold medal.
"I tried to go as fast as possible, to try to get to the finish line as quick as possible," van Niekerk said. "I knew I had to give it my all."
Van Niekerk got tired again — of doing interviews. All this attention takes some getting used to.
The price of fame after quite a performance.
Van Niekerk needed to reach down deep to hold off Olympic champions LaShawn Merritt and Kirani James. That left him breathless. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Looking back, van Niekerk said his biggest mistake was sitting down so soon after the race and that if he had remained standing, he would've been able to take a customary victory lap.
"I'm just grateful for the fact I got the medal," he said. "This was taken way more out of proportion than what it was. I was just exhausted."
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