Watch out Gatlin, Lightning Bolt is coming. 

 

Although Usain Bolt may not be ready for top American sprinter Justin Gatlin just yet, he took a big step forward tonight at the London Diamond League, running two identical 9.87 100m times to win his prelim and the final. Bolt won despite struggling out of the blocks in both races, showing considerable rust given the more than a month layoff since his last outing.

However, the Olympic champion, who returned to the track where he won triple gold back in 2012, recovered nicely in both of his races, even easing up near the line to win his preliminary round. Bolt had to come from behind in the final, catching American Mike Rodgers in the final 30 meters before powering past him with his unmistakable galloping stride. 

Rodgers would finish second in 9.90. 

The 28-year-old Bolt made a statement with his performance tonight, adding intrigue to his looming matchup with Gatlin at the World Championships in Beijing next month. The World record holder entered tonight’s meet with a meager 10.12 season’s best, and had been recovering from a leg injury that forced him to pull out of Paris and Lausanne.

Combined with a string of sub-par performances earlier in season, his injury left many wondering if he would be fit in time to compete in Beijing. Bolt has been seeking treatment in Germany for a blocked sacroiliac joint in his left leg for the last several weeks, while conversely, Gatlin has been destroying very competitive fields in the 100m and 200m all season.

Bolt is the defending World champion in both the 100 and 200, events in which the American Gatlin owns 2015 World leads of 9.74 and 19.57, respectively. The pair have yet to meet in 2015, and won’t do so until Beijing.

After his win, Bolt was asked if he thought he could beat Gatlin in Beijing. "Without a doubt," he smiled.

While Bolt's performance will still leave many skeptical that he can beat Gatlin, who hasn't lost an individual race since he was beaten by Bolt on September 6th, 2013 in the Brussels 100m, he certainly answered any discerning questions wondering if his career was over. 

The Jamaican sprinter's time tonight in London ties him with American Tyson Gay for sixth-fastest in the world in 2015.