Segway cameraman who ran over Usain Bolt apologizes

By Todd Dewey Las Vegas Review-Journal

10 years ago

Usain Bolt of Jamaica is hit by a cameraman on a Segway as he celebrates after winning the men‘s 200 metres final at the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, August 27, 2015. (Stringer/Reuters)

Usain Bolt of Jamaica (front R) limps after being knocked over by a cameraman (R) on a Segway after winning the men‘s 200 metres final at the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, August 27, 2015. (Stringer/Reuters)

Usain Bolt of Jamaica (bottom) falls after being knocked down by a cameraman (R) on a Segway as he celebrates winning the men‘s 200 metres final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, August 27, 2015. (Pan Zhiwang/Reuters)

Usain Bolt (L) of Jamaica is knocked over by a cameraman on a Segway after the men‘s 200m final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China August 27, 2015. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

Aug 27, 2015; Beijing, China; Usain Bolt (JAM), center, wins the 200m in 19.55 during the IAAF World Championships in Athletics at National Stadium. From left: Nickel Asheade (JAM), Anaso Jobodwana (RSA), Bolt and Zharnel Hughes (GBR) and Justin Gatlin (USA). (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

Aug 27, 2015; Beijing, China; Usain Bolt (JAM) celebrates after winning the 200m in 19.55 during the IAAF World Championships in Athletics at National Stadium. (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

Aug 27, 2015; Beijing, China; Usain Bolt (JAM) wins the 200m in 19.55 during the IAAF World Championships in Athletics at National Stadium. From left: Nickel Asheade (JAM), Anaso Jobodwana (RSA and Bolt. (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

Aug 27, 2015; Beijing, China; Usain Bolt (JAM) poses after winning the 200m in 19.55 during the IAAF World Championships in Athletics at National Stadium. (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

Usain Bolt of Jamaica (L) crosses the finish line ahead of Justin Gatlin (2nd R) from the U.S., Zharnel Hughes of Britain (2nd L) and Ramil Guliyev of Turkey in the men‘s 200m final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China August 27, 2015. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

American sprinter Justin Gatlin couldn’t run down Usain Bolt at the World Championships, but a cameraman riding on a Segway ran over the world’s fastest man as the Jamaican took a victory lap Thursday after winning the 200-meter dash in Beijing.

Bolt was taken out from behind by the cameraman, whose Segway veered abruptly to the right after running over a bolt, of all things, protruding from a trackside camera rail.

Fortunately, Bolt, who was barefoot at the time of the accident, emerged unscathed. The cameraman, Song Tao, personally apologized to Bolt after the incident and the two shook hands before the medal ceremony, with Tao giving the sprinter a gift.

“The important thing is that he is OK. I’m fine and ready to get back to work,” Song told the Guardian through an interpreter.

Bolt, who pulled away from Gatlin down the stretch in the 200 after edging him by .01 seconds in Sunday’s 100-meter final, joked that the American was behind the accident, a la Tonya Harding.

“He tried to kill me! I don’t know what was going on,” Bolt said. “It was like: ‘You are winning too much. Take him out!”

Check out Bolt’s electrifying win and subsequent takedown below.