Rio Olympics 2016: Usain Bolt storms to victory in his 200m heat following his golden effort in the 100m event
Jamaican sprint superstar powers to the line to reach semi-final in his quest for yet another stunning Olympic gold medal
USAIN BOLT looked like a man on a mission as he kicked-off his 200m campaigns.
Bolt, has vowed here to become the first man on the planet to break the 19 seconds barrier for the distance since setting the current world record of 19.19secs in Berlin seven years ago.
On Tuesday he did enough to book his place in the semi-finals ahead of Thursday's showdown, winning his heat in a pedestrian 20.28secs, easing down as he headed for the line to save energy for when it matters.
But Bolt, who on Sunday clinched the Olympic 100m title for the third Games in a row and is bidding for the triple-triple here, insisted: "I'll have enough rest and enough energy to definitely try for the world record. We'll see [Thursday] how it goes.
"I know how to run a 200m. [Wednesday] I'll show much better progress because I will have to run faster so I'm looking forward to that.
RELATED STORIES
"I'm feeling ok, a little bit tired but it was expected. It's a morning session and I'm not a morning person."
Bolt was the 15th fastest qualifier with Olympic 100m bronze medallist Andre de Grasse ahead of the field clocking 20.09secs.
But the Jamaican said: "I'm always tired for the first round, but the execution was ok and they key thing is that I qualified and I qualified easy. Most of the young guys always run fast in the heats, but the key thing is just to win because then you get a better semi-final draw.
"I have a long day now and tonight to rest and then one run. I'll have enough rest and enough energy. I have time to recover over the days."
Bolt, who has seven Olympic titles in a row now, said he had no problems re-focusing on the 200m after his 100m glory on Sunday.
He said: "For me its easy because I've been doing this for years. You just celebrate on the night, be happy, get all your congratulations and then have to be focused to go again the next day."
Adam Gemili qualified for the semi-finals too in 20.20secs.
Gemili, only the second Brit in history to break the 20 second mark after John Regis, said; "It was great to get out there and feel the track. I've been in the athletes's village for a while and now it actually feels like the Olympics."
British team-mate Danny Talbot joins Gemili after setting a personal best to clock 20.27secs.