Bolt's Segway assailant says sorry

  • 29/08/2015
Song Tao apologises to Usain Bolt (Reuters)
Song Tao apologises to Usain Bolt (Reuters)

The Chinese cameraman who sent Usain Bolt flying at the World Athletics Championships presented him with a red bracelet on Friday to apologise after footage of the incident went viral.

A red-faced Song Tao of China's CCTV placed the good-luck charm on Bolt's wrist by way of apology after he lost control of the electric Segway scooter he was riding and clattered the Jamaican from behind.

Bolt, the six-times Olympic champion, escaped serious injury in the accident which happened as he celebrated sealing the world sprint double with an emphatic 200m win on Thursday night (NZT).

"The important thing is that he is okay. I'm fine and ready to get back to work," Song told the Guardian via a translator, before returning to his duties at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing.

The bizarre mishap is set to become an enduring image of the Beijing world championships after it trended on social media and featured prominently in TV news bulletins.

AFP