There, only a short hike from the main stadium, he didn't have to worry about jumping the gun.
Bolt missed out on defending his title Sunday when he jumped from the blocks early at the world championships. He was disqualified by a highly debated zero-tolerance false start rule enacted last year.
"He's human, isn't he? I always knew he was human," said his coach, Glen Mills. "He will pick himself up. He's a champion."
Just not on this night.
Bolt knew instantly it was his error, too. Soon after the gun went off, soon after taking just a few steps out of the blocks, another gun blasted — the knot-in-your-stomach sound for any sprinter.
Bolt's eyes grew big. He pulled his shirt over his face, then ripped it off and whipped it around in his hand. Grudgingly, Bolt left the stage he has dominated since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Instead, it was left to another Jamaican to wrap himself in the country's flag — Yohan Blake, a 21-year-old up-and-comer that former Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene predicted to win.
Blake finished in a modest time of 9.92 seconds, 0.16 seconds ahead of American rival Walter Dix. Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the 2003 world champion and now an aging 35-year-old veteran, was third.
On the morning after his disqualification, Bolt realized Monday he had to move forward as quickly as possible.
"There is no point to dwell on the past. I have a few days to refocus and get ready for the 200 on Friday," the Jamaican said in a statement.
The 200 is his favorite event and more gold could be waiting in the 4x100 relays on Sunday, the last day of the championships.
"I know that I am now in good shape and will focus on running well in the 200," Bolt said.(GEO.TV)
