BOLT AGAIN ....WHY ALWAYS HIM?

The Bolt and Blake show dazzle Olympic Stadium again... 

Usain Bolt began his bid to add a second Olympic 200 metres crown to his two 100m titles with a hugely comfortable heat victory.

The Jamaican, who clocked an Olympic record 9.63 seconds to retain his 100m crown on Sunday, cruised to victory in 20.39secs.

Bolt has said he needs to win 200m gold again before he achieves his aim of becoming a 'legend'.

Bolt's countryman and training partner Yohan Blake also breezed through, slowing down well before the line to clock 20.38s.

Blake had to settle for silver in the 100m, but is out to deny Bolt a second gold, having beaten him over 200m at the Jamaican trials

France's Christophe Lemaitre went quicker than both Jamaicans in winning his heat in 20.34 and Bolt nodded in approval as he watched his rival's run on a TV screen.

Lightning Bolt: Usain cruised to victory and then soaked up the atmosphere in the stadium

Blake, dubbed 'The Beast' because of his prodigious work ethic, said: 'I did what my coach said and qualified. I'm feeling good, that's why they call me the beast. The track is fast. I appreciate anything is possible.

'The 100m taught me a lot and it's given me confidence. I love this event.'

Asked whether he could beat Bolt, he said: 'I'm not really focusing on beating him. I'm concentrating on running my race.'

Ecuador's Alex Quinonez was in fact the fastest qualifier in a national record of 20.28.

World number one Aries Merritt qualified impressively in the 110m hurdles in 13.07 as China's Liu Xiang crashed out injured at the first hurdle.

Cruise control: Blake also eased into the semi-final of the 200 metres