Habitually, 200 metres gold for Usain Bolt has tended to be won at a canter but the world's fastest man believes it will be his toughest task in the sprint treble he has undertaken.
Because of a pelvic problem and a rushed preparation for these World Championships, Bolt is missing the speed endurance work required to run his fastest times over the longer distance.
But he remains a formidable threat and in tomorrow's final - provided they get through today's semi-finals - he will rekindle the sprint battle with Justin Gatlin, the first instalment of which reached such a thrilling conclusion in the 100m on Sunday.
There was little indication of what form the Jamaican is in over the distance after the easiest of heats yesterday, which he won easing up with 50 metres remaining in a time of 20.28sec.
Bolt has yet to dip under 20 seconds this season and admitted: “The race was good but I'm feeling tired. It's been an up-and-down season so I knew the 200m was going to be harder [than the 100m] because I'm not in the best fitness shape I wanted. Hopefully, I can get my technique right and we'll see what happens through the rounds.”
Technically, Bolt's large frame struggled for fluency on the bend, his lead coming into the home straight being less than he would have liked.
As for the prospect of a second world gold in the Bird's Nest stadium, he added: “Everybody knows that it will mean more than the 100m. I'm just trying to get through these rounds using as little energy as possible and then give it my best in the final.”
How much of his comments are kidology with Gatlin in mind is not clear but, on the evidence of the 100m and the manner in which the American stumbled, Bolt has certainly got into his head.
Gatlin, who boasts a season's best 19.57sec, said after he won his heat in 20.19: “My coach just said to dominate from the start, work the curve, come off the curve attacking, hold my form in the straight and just ease into it.”
Bolt's training partner, Britain's Zharnel Hughes, whom he nicknames “Captain' on account of his dream of becoming a pilot, flew into the semi-finals with a heat win of his own in 20.13, and remains an outside bet for a medal. He said: “I want to get a medal here but my focus right now is to get into the final.”
Another British outside medal chance, Laura Muir, had to make do with fifth in the 1500m final, which was won by Genzebe Dibaba.
Christine Ohuruogu produced a season's best 50.16sec to win her 400m semi-final and qualify for the final.
The defending champion, in the stadium where she won Olympic gold in 2008, said: “I wanted to come back with a win and I did. Knowing how to win helps but you can't take anything for granted.” – The Independent