Rio de Janeiro: Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin were contemptuous in different ways as the glamour event of the Games got started on Saturday. Bolt, the superstar Jamaican everyone wants to see, jogged into the semi finals of the 100-metre sprint, while Gatlin combatively dismissed the US teammate who questioned his right to compete here because of his doping history.
A defiant Gatlin won his heat in the quickest time -10.01 seconds - and then declared: "I don't even know who Lilly King is."
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Perhaps he has not heard of the young American gold medal winning swimmer who challenged Gatlin's place on the US team because he has twice been banned for doping. But doubtless he has heard of Michael Phelps, who has taken a similarly strong stance against drug cheats.
Before the heats of the 100, Gatlin had defended his right to race in Rio. "At the end of the day, the time has been served. I've served that time," he said. "I've dealt with that punishment. I've moved forward.
"I've worked hard, all the way from the bottom when I had nothing. I worked hard to work back to where I'm at now. I don't understand. The system has worked.
"I think people need to stop looking at trying to be the judge, the jury and executioner and let the system do its job."
At the track on Saturday Gatlin was much more focused on his rival, Bolt, than King.
They might be pitted head to head but in that battle Bolt has had the American adequately covered. Bolt's appearance signalled that the Games could truly begin.
![Jamaica's Usain Bolt](/web/20160815111249im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/r/y/q/r/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqryl0.png/1471179107103.jpg)
Stands that previously were far from full were now close to capacity. The drums were not needed to lift the noise, for there was only one name that was chanted just for appearing on the track: Bolt.
![Justin Gatlin of the United States](/web/20160815111249im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/r/y/r/y/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqryl0.png/1471179107103.jpg)
The Jamaican champion betrayed no hint of the hamstring problem that had hampered his preparation as he relaxed through his heat in 10.07s.
He was the fourth-quickest on the day, but he strolled to the line, looking across at Andrew Fisher to make sure he had him covered. He knew he didn't need to do more than that.
I don't even know who Lily King is.
Sprinter Justin Gatlin
"It wasn't the best start," Bolt said afterwards. "I felt kind of slow. I'm not used to running this early at any championship."
More pertinent than how quick Bolt went was how fast Gatlin was. The polarising American was the quickest out of the heats and remains the man most likely to deny Bolt another Olympic 100m gold.
But even last year when Gatlin had run the six fastest times in the world heading into the world championships, had run the fastest times in the heats and semis and was leading two thirds of the way down the track in the final, Bolt still beat him.
Gatlin was trying to unsettle Bolt when he hinted at his physical frailty coming into the games.
![Usain Bolt of Jamaica](/web/20160815111249im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/r/y/q/o/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gqryl0.png/1471179107103.jpg)
He needled Bolt about his hamstring troubles saying he needed a medical exemption to qualify. Bolt warned the 34-year-old athlete he calls "Old Man", that winding him up only makes him quicker.
So now they are both through to the semi finals and the final, on Monday morning AEST, awaits.
Former world champion, Jamaican Yohan Blake, who won a world championship the year Bolt was disqualified for a false start, eased through his heat in 10.11s.