RIO DE JANEIRO — Usain Bolt advanced to the final for the 200 meters with the fastest time of the year and is one win away from his eighth Olympic gold medal.
Bolt ran 19.78 seconds, pushed all the way by Canada’s Andre de Grasse in the lane beside him, in the second of two semifinal heats at Rio. He earns an automatic place in Thursday’s final. De Grasse finished in 19.80 seconds to advance.
After winning the 100 meters to clinch his third consecutive Olympic title in that event, Bolt set his sights on a third straight sprint double and added another challenge: He wants to lower his world record in the process.
Bolt set the world record of 19.19 at the 2009 world championships in Berlin. He set the Olympic record in Beijing in 2008.
Justin Gatlin has failed to qualify for the final of the 200 meters after placing third in his semifinal heat the Olympics.
Gatlin, who took the silver medal behind Usain Bolt in the 100 meters, finished in 20.13 seconds on Wednesday.
Alonso Edward of Panama won the last of the three semifinal heats in 20.07, followed by Churandy Martina of Netherlands in 20.10.
Bolt was the fastest qualifier in a season-leading 19.78 and is on track for his eighth Olympic gold medal. He is aiming for a third straight sprint double at the Olympics.
