Jamaican Olympic trials: Usain Bolt pulls out with hamstring tear

World-record holder Usain Bolt withdrew from Jamaica's Olympic trials only minutes before the men's 100 metres final on Friday.

His executive manager Nugent Walker confirmed the news, less than 20 minutes before the race.

"He, Bolt, is out of the remainder of the championship on medical exemption," Walker said.

Bolt's withdrawal does not mean he will miss the Olympics, where he is expected to defend his titles in the 100 and 200.

Unlike the United States, where the first three finishers in the trials win Olympic berths, Jamaica's selection policy allows medical exemptions.

Bolt took to Twitter to shed light on his injury, which he described as a Grade 1 hamstring tear.

"I have submitted a medical exemption to be excused from the 100m final and the remainder of the National Championships," Bolt said in a statement released through Jamaican officials.

"I will seek treatment immediately and hope to show fitness at the London Anniversary Games on July 22 to earn selection for the Olympic Games in Rio."

Bolt had clocked 10.04 seconds to win the first semifinal after a poor start and was due to square off in the final against Yohan Blake, who ran a 9.95 to win the other semifinal.

Blake won the 100 title and formally qualified for the Rio Olympics — but only after a false-start disqualification call against him was overturned after review.

Bolt, 29, won Olympic gold in the 100 during the Beijing Games in 2008 and in the 2012 London Olympics. No one has ever won the 100-metre race at the Olympics three times.

Blake, who finished second to Bolt at the London Games in the 100, said he was confident that Bolt will be in Rio.

"No doubt, no doubt, no doubt," Blake said. "It's just a caution measure. He's good. Just being cautious."