Olympic champion Usain Bolt eased through Heat 9 with a timing of 20.28 seconds followed by Nigeria's Ejowvokoghene Oduduru in second place in Round 1 of the men's 200 metres at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

After taking a comfortable lead at the halfway mark, Bolt took it easy in the last 100m but still managed to finish comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack.

Canada's Andre de Grasse, who won a  bronze in the 100m, registered the best timing in Round 1 with 20.09 in Heat 10.

Spain's Bruno Hortelano had the next best timing with 20.12 after Jamaican Yohan Blake (20.13) slowed down at the end in Heat 2 allowing the Spaniard to overtake him right at the end.

American Justin Gatlin was relatively slower in Heat 5 as he won with a timing of 20.42 ahead of Italy's Matteo Galvan (20.58).

Another Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade clocked an impressive 20.15 in Heat 6 ahead of Britain's Adam Gemili, who clocked 20.20.

Lashawn Merritt ran a good race to finish top in Heat 8 with 20.15 ahead of France's Christophe Lemaitre (20.28).