Athletics: Bolt Strides Into 100 Meters Semi-Finals

Usain Bolt of Jamaica (R) wins the men's 100m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in this August 16, 2008 file photo. Over 116 years the Olympic 100 metres final has produced drama, pain, controversy, disillusionment, incredulity and unbridled joy - all crammed into a race lasting little longer than it takes to say "Baron Pierre de Coubertin." (Photo : REUTERS/Jason Reed )

Jamaican Usain Bolt allayed fears about his fitness by storming through the first round of the 100 meters in 10.09 seconds at the London Olympicson Saturday.

The defending champion and world record holder was beaten by world champion Yohan Blake at the Jamaican trials and admitted he had been suffering from a hamstring problem caused by a stiff back.

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On a hot and sunny morning at the Olympic Stadium, however, the 25-year-old looked his usual confident self as he went through his traditional repertoire of pre-race gestures.

He stumbled at the start but soon got into his powerful stride to move ahead of the field before easing up to cross the line just ahead of Antiguan Daniel Bailey (10.12).