If the dramatic news of Usain Bolt’s injury marked this weekend, then feats of the Jamaican’s biggest rival went under the radar. American sprinter Justin Gatlin, Olympic 100m champion at Athens 2004, recorded the event's quickest time of the year with 9.80 seconds at the US track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday (3 July).

“I wasn’t really worried about the clock. Last year I just wanted to know the time, but this year I am only concerned about preparing to arrive at my peak form,” Gatlin said after the race.

Justin Gatlin vows not to get ‘sucked into the hype’ against Usain Bolt at Rio 2016

Trayvon Bromell and Marvin Bracy, second and third respectively in the trials, also qualfied for Rio 2016. Bromell clocked the second best time of the year with 9.84, while Bracy came in behind on 9.98.

Two other Olympic athletics stars who claimed their spots at Rio 2016 this Sunday were Allyson Felix, who won the 400m, and Ashton Eaton, who will defend his Olympic title in the decathlon. The US track and field trials continue until next Sunday (10 July).

Meanwhile in Jamaica…

Yohan Blake, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown guaranteed their Olympic berths at the Jamaican trials, which ended this Sunday (3 July) in Kingston (see the full men's and women's results). With the absence of Bolt, Blake assumed the role of protagonist and won the 200m in 20.29, followed by Nickel Ashmeade (20.45). Both had already guaranteed their spots in the 100m.

Fraser-Pryce also qualified for the 100m this weekend. With a time of 10.93, the two-time champion came in second place behind Elaine Thompson, who ran 10.70. Both were in a bit of pain and ended up withdrawing from the 200m event, in which Simone Facey and Veronica Campbell-Brown earned their Rio 2016 places with 22.65 and 22.80 respectively.

Bolt in Germany

While his opponents fly down the track, Usain Bolt is in a race against time to guarantee his berths at Rio 2016. The Jamaican arrived on Monday (5 July) in Germany to undergo treatment with Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wolfahrt, a doctor who also works with the country’s national football team.

If he recuperates in time from a grade one hamstring tear in his left leg, the sprinter is sure to receive an invitation from the Jamaican federation to compete at Rio 2016.

Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.