British sprinter describes the amazing injury-hit story behind his 60m victory at the 2004 World Indoor Champs in Budapest

I was in the best shape of my life coming out of that winter. I was faster and stronger than I had ever been before. I’d always been dominant over the 60 metres anyway, so it was no surprise to come out all guns blazing and the confidence was sky high.

Yet I changed the plan a little bit, which is a bit foolish. I added another race in Karlsruhe. There was the prospect of racing on a really quick track against some good opposition and a good payday.

I equalled my European record, which was 6.46 seconds but 24 hours afterwards I noticed I was really sore in my lower abdomen area, a stabbing pain. I just thought “maybe it’s just because of running so quickly the day before and travelling.” But it got worse.

I went to see the doctor and got a scan straightaway. He realised I needed a double hernia repair. So it’s Olympic year and I had overcooked things, pushing my body to its limits to try and be the best I could be. My first child was due to be born in March so there was all kinds of stress going on.

On top of all that I had a broken wrist and was scheduled to get the operation after the world indoors. I postponed because I didn’t want to be in a cast. Suddenly, I went from being the fastest man in the world to struggling.

Malcolm Arnold, my coach, just being the man that he is, showed me no mercy. The pain got so unbearable, with the wrist and other injuries as well. But then it kind of switched off. I was able to go through the timing gate and I got very close to the performances from before hurting my stomach. The penny dropped that I could still be competitive at world indoors.

But it required a big change in terms of set-up. Every time I was putting these demands on my body, I was in fact making my injury worse. I needed wraparound care from the medical team.

Before we got to Budapest, Shawn Crawford [2004 Olympic 200m champion] was just one hundredth of a second slower than me. In my mind, I was on a gold medal search for Britain, the only one expected to get one on the team. We decided at the final training session, I was going to war. I mentally felt there wasn’t going to be any better time in my career to win the world indoor title.

Malcolm laid it on, saying there was no compromise. I had medals from previous world indoors but our goal was gold. It was mine and I wasn’t going to give it away, so we kept all my issues totally quiet from our wider team. The majority of the British team management didn’t have a clue.

I got through the first round. I needed to step up in the semi-final. Malcolm gave me a good talking to. I was in the first semi and ran 6.49. I waited around to watch Shawn to see what he could do in response to my time. He only ran 6.54. That was the moment where I thought “I’ve got him” because he couldn’t respond.

After the final, Malcolm gave me a big smile. That was when I started to really learn about mental toughness, the realisation that your body is never going to be perfect. Over the years, I got to see the likes of Kelly Holmes, behind the scenes, getting patched up before she went out to run. Everyone’s carrying problems. Once you accept that as an athlete, success can still happen.

In the process of getting that gold, I sustained five complete ruptures in various muscles. And I tore a tendon off the bone as well. When I was rehabbing, I did seriously question whether I would be able to recover in time for the Olympics that summer in Athens.

Because I wasn’t in a team sport, I couldn’t be protected by better players around me or be operating around 80-90 per cent. I had to be 100 per cent without any injuries to be worthy of an Olympic final place.

My team of physios and doctors and coaches were amazing. Without them, there’s no way I would have been able to make that Olympic team. How I won the Olympic trials in Manchester is beyond me. I had developed Achilles problems as well and I had stitches all around my lower stomach area and things taped back on.

I carried the Olympic 4x100m relay gold medal with a broken wrist as well. The management didn’t know about that, either. 2004 was quite a remarkable year.

Jason Gardener was speaking to Mark Woods

England overhauled a stubborn, skilful France to snatch victory in a see-sawing Six Nations match at Twickenham.

The hosts' pressure told in a cagey second half as Maro Itoje barged over for a 77th-minute score.

Even then France threatened to land a decisive counter-punch but Brice Dulin's break was snuffed out.

Wales' win over Italy earlier in the day means England's victory is too late to salvage a Six Nations title defence.

But victory went some way to re-establishing England's credentials as the northern hemisphere's superpower, in world rankings at least.

The 2019 World Cup runners-up had slipped to fourth, below France, after defeats by Scotland and Wales in their opening three games of this year's campaign.

Today's victory takes them back above their opponents to third.

But, with Wales and Scotland upwardly mobile and France a few minutes away from a first win at Twickenham since 2005, any claims to being Europe's number one side are far from conclusive.

France, who play unbeaten Wales in Paris next weekend, can still win the title for the first time since 2010.

Transition or tradition for poker-faced Jones?

The question for Jones now is whether to stick or twist again.

The Australian has admitted that his side are in a period of transition, suggesting only around 70% of the current squad will feature at the next World Cup in 2023.

He brought the free-running full-back Max Malins and hard-carrying hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie into the starting line-up and his side seemed revived as they slugged it out with France in an enthralling first half.

Anthony Watson's try, created by Henry Slade's darting break and George Ford mis-pass on the wing's 50th England appearance, was the least he and his side deserved.

The second half featured more perspiration than inspiration from England. Owen Farrell's boot kept them within range before Itoje burrowed over to break France's resolve.

With the final-weekend trip to Dublin a dead rubber in title terms, will Jones opt for further surgery to his side or restore usual mainstays Elliot Daly and Jamie George who contributed to a strong final quarter?

It may be that this summer's tour of North America, while the Lions take on South Africa, will instead be the chance he takes to test some of his fringe squad members.

Jalibert and Dupont shine in defeat

France will come again. With two successive under-20 world titles behind them, a home World Cup in 2023 in front of them and a clutch of exciting young stars hitting their straps, the future is bright.

In recent years, France have often failed to live up to their reputation for incisive, imaginative rugby. On their last Six Nations visit to Twickenham, they lost by more than 30 points, failing to lay a glove on England.

But, finally, they have a generation of players to match up to a glorious past. Central to their win was the half-back partnership of Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert.

Jones had said earlier this week that he would settle for scrum-half Dupont having merely a tidy game rather than a special one. His hopes were thwarted in 81 seconds. Dupont attacked the short side, ran a superb support line and then gathered Teddy Thomas' kick ahead for the first score.

The excellence of Dupont, player of the tournament last year, probably the best in the world this, came as no surprise. But Jalibert, making his seventh start, has come in under the radar.

Picked ahead of Romain Ntamack, he pulled the strings to perfection, providing a delicious basketball pass for Damian Penaud to stroll in for a superb second try.

This France side can mix steel with the stardust though. Drilled by defence coach Shaun Edwards, they repelled England's attacks repeatedly in the second half only to be finally undone within sight of a landmark win.

Man of the match - Anthony Watson

'A great game to be involved with' - reaction

England wing Anthony Watson: "We knew we had not performed to our standards particularly in discipline against Wales. You could see the togetherness of our squad, we have to set the benchmark and we have got to get better.

"It was a great game to be involved with, credit to France, but it was a joy to be part of. Scoring a try in the last five minutes and controlling it at the end was the main thing. We are pretty happy with that."

England fly-half George Ford: "I didn't think we'd have that many attacking opportunities in the first half, but the pleasing thing is we were ready to go at France.

"We played some really good stuff. You can analyse games but you have got to be in the moment to adapt to what is going on.

"We were one pass or phase away from that killer instinct, to put another try into them so we need sharpen up a few things. The last 10-15 minutes, the pleasing thing was we kept turning up, giving ourselves opportunities to win."

France head coach Fabien Galthie: "It was not the management at the end of the match that cost us, the problem was the penalty on one of our scrums, a kick that didn't find touch, and things that went wrong earlier on the pitch.

"We didn't really structure well enough our defence, especially the last English action that allowed them to score their second try."

Fortress Twickenham

England have won their last eight home games against France in the Six Nations. Their last defeat came in February 2005 when they fell to a narrow 18-17 defeat.

Line-ups

England: Malins, Watson, Slade, Farrell, May, Ford, Youngs, M. Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Itoje, Ewels, Wilson, Curry, B. Vunipola.

Replacements: Daly for Malins (63), Lawrence for Slade (72), Robson for Youngs (76), Genge for M. Vunipola (63), George for Cowan-Dickie (72), Stuart for Sinckler (72), Hill for Ewels (78), Earl for Wilson (63).

France: Dulin, Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou, Penaud, Jalibert, Dupont, Baille, Marchand, Haouas, R. Taofifenua, Willemse, Cretin, Ollivon, Alldritt.

Replacements: Gros for Baille (68), Chat for Marchand (72), Aldegheri for Haouas (59), Cazeaux for R. Taofifenua (59), Woki for Cretin (72). Not Used: Jelonch, Serin, Ntamack.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Touch judges: Mike Adamson (Scotland) & Craig Evans (Wales)

TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

So all roads lead to Paris for Wales.

Wales are the only team who can still win the clean sweep and only need a couple of match points to be officially crowned champions.

A losing bonus point against France might be enough but certain scenarios could mean Wales still lose out on points difference.

France still have to play Scotland after Super Saturday next week but Wales know what victory against Les Bleus will mean.

"We got what we came for" was the response from Pivac after the trip to Rome, and Italy will long be forgotten by the time the squad arrives back in Cardiff.

France is very much on the horizon now for Wales as they look to complete a second Six Nations clean sweep in three tournaments.

"Going to Paris will be a different challenge for us," said Pivac.

"We need to improve. They will be a different proposition and we know we're going to be in for a massive game.

"The two times we've played France so far, we've been on the receiving end of the result."

Captain Alun Wyn Jones agrees with his coach after leading Wales to a friendly defeat in Paris last October.

"We will have to go up a few levels," said Jones.

"In many ways it's a similar situation (to the autumn) with no fans away in France and that was a clinical game by them.

"But that was the start of a period of games in a different situation. I don't want to be over the top but the world had changed and we were going into a competition we hadn't experienced before.

"We're a bit further down the line with no crowds, where we are with the game and all that's going on to make it happen.

"We've dealt with that, but we still have to go up a few gears to go there and perform. They are one of the in-form teams in the competition and have been for the last two years.

"I'm sure they're not going to stop that next week."

Away days

Next weekend will actually represent a first for world record cap holder Jones who will play his 148th international for Wales at Stade de France.

For all the Six Nations and Grand Slams he has clinched in his career, those memorable days have occurred in Cardiff. Not since 1971 have Wales clinched a Grand Slam away from home.

"We are not going to shy away from that," said Jones.

"We know the significance away games have in this competition. It is one we have not experienced before and going to be another week of weeks leading up to that game on Saturday."

Pivac believes the night time defeat Wales suffered against Fabien Galthie's side last year will benefit his side.

"The absence of fans neutralises things a little bit, we travelled out to Paris in the warm-up for the autumn campaign," said Pivac.

"We played there in a late, nine o'clock kick off last time. It will all be familiar territory for us, which is a good thing.

"If you asked this side coming out of the autumn whether they'd take four from four travelling to Paris for a potential Grand Slam, you know the answer."

This is an experience few would have suspected Pivac would have experienced after overseeing a 2020 where Wales finished fifth in the tournament and only won three games in 10 matches.

"It's chalk and cheese, isn't it?" said Pivac.

"We know the pain we went through in the autumn and they were not the results we were after.

"But you're seeing some of the players who got opportunities playing out there now in the Six Nations, coming off the bench, some getting starts.

"We're that much better for the autumn, we've got a lot more depth and going to keep building on that.

"The big prize is working towards the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and this championship was always going to be a line in the sand for us.

"We're pleased to be four from four with an opportunity that we can finally talk about, to try and go all the way and win five from five, the Grand Slam."

Attacking weapons

Pivac's side have scored 17 tries in four games so maybe 'Wayneball" has replaced "Warrenball" in reference to the style coined to describe the side of his predecessor Warren Gatland.

"It's pleasing to score tries, people love seeing that and we like playing a brand of rugby where we give ourselves that opportunity" said Pivac.

"We've just got to make sure we get the balance in our game right. That's something we've been working on and tweaking."

This could be a defining week in many players' careers but Jones will insist Wales only start focusing on this after a well-earned break.

"I was clear we will deal with that on Tuesday when we get in," said Jones.

"We have a couple of days off so I made a point to the boys to make sure we have some switch off time and spend time with their families before going into next week and being ready to work."

Inevitably, Jones can set another record next weekend by becoming the first Welshman to win four Grand Slams but insists it is not about him.

"The excitement I feel every time I pull on this red jersey is insurmountable, so I'm looking forward to getting back and preparing," said Jones.

"I don't know if it gets easier or more difficult the more opportunities you get with games like this.

"The biggest thing is the realisation we've got a lot of players in this squad that have been in these weeks before.

"Ultimately we're not going to rely on past experience. It's just another opportunity and challenge to play for Wales in a special week."

Romantic or realist?

Jones had just seen his England side go toe to toe with France in a frenzied, open, attacking first half before grinding their way to victory in less flamboyant style in the final quarter. Maro Itoje's short-range try on 77 minutes eventually ensured the hosts a 23-20 victory.

Jones could see the beauty in each.

"We always want to play like that," he told BBC Sport of the game's free-running passages.

"We are disappointed that we didn't have 82,000 fans in here with us, they would have got more than their money's worth, the RFU would have been happy.

"We would love to play every game like that but sometimes it just doesn't work like that.

"There was reasonably quick ball, there was a good surface, not much rain, so it was good conditions to play a passing game.

"The game is funny. The game dictates the game. That doesn't make much sense I know. But it does."

And sometimes Jones dictates the game a bit too.

Jones spoke of "tactical errors" in the final 10 minutes of the first half, that handed the lead to France.

For the admiring gasps that France's 32nd-minute try - scored by Damian Penaud - drew from their back-room staff and replacements in an empty Twickenham, it won't have pleased Jones.

England's defence was carved wide open off first-phase ball as Gael Fickou's dummy and Matthieu Jalibert's pass gave Penaud a route into the corner.

Both defences tightened in the second half, with just a penalty scored apiece, before Itoje went over at the death.

"Tactically brilliant," said Jones of England's second half, seeing glitter in their gritty route to victory.

"We reset at half-time and played a real solid Test match," added fly-half George Ford.

"You have got to play what's in front of you, that's what the game is about. That sometimes changes in the game.

"We played some really good stuff, it's a Test match so you don't know what you're going to get. You can analyse games but you have got to be in the moment to adapt to what is going on."

Jones reiterated his belief that such adaptability is key to England's chances at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

"We need to start changing the way we are playing," he said.

"We are moving with our plan to be at our best at the World Cup in 2023, which will have to be a combination of playing our traditional, attritional style of game and then being able to play quickly.

"All of the laws are coming into the game that are encouraging the game to be faster. We are going to have to be like that."

England went into the match with one priority high in their mind whatever sort of game broke out.

After giving away 41 penalties in their first three Six Nations games so far, Test referees Wayne Barnes and Matt Carley were invited to England training to give them guidance on how to stay on the right side of the officials.

It certainly worked in the first half, with England only conceding their first in the 25th minute and three in total before the interval.

The discipline frayed in the second half with another nine being added to England's tally, but Jones picked out Owen Farrell and Itoje, whose leadership and high penalty count respectively had been criticised after defeat by Wales a fortnight ago, for praise.

"I thought Maro and Owen, who have been under criticism from everyone, were absolutely splendid today.

"They played the game tough and hard, and got on with it. It's a great tribute to their character and their playing ability."

England will complete their Six Nations campaign with a visit to Ireland next weekend. There won't be a happy ending to their title defence. Defeat by Scotland and Wales earlier in the tournament have put paid to that.

There might not be the same room for eye-catching attacking thrills either against an Ireland side coached by former defence specialist Andy Farrell.

Whatever route his team can find to victory though, is scenic enough for Jones.

WARWICKSHIRE, England — Longtime BBC motorsports commentator Murray Walker, perhaps best known for his role in BBC’s Formula One coverage, died Saturday morning.

Walker was 97. His death was confirmed by officials from the British Racing Driver’s Club, of which Walker was an associate member.

“It’s with great sadness we share the news of the passing of BRDC associate member Murray Walker, OBE,” read a statement from the BRDC. “(He was) a friend, a true motorsport legend, the nation’s favorite commentator and had a contagious smile.

“We thank Murray for all he has done for our community.”

Of Scottish descent, Walker’s father Graham participated in the Isle of Man TT, while his mother, Elsie Spratt, was the daughter of Bedfordshire businessman Harry Spratt.

Walker served as part of the British army during World War II, and after the war ended, he briefly followed in his father’s footsteps with a short motorcycle racing career before moving in the direction of advertising and television.

Walker’s first public broadcast was at Shelsley Walsh hill climb in 1948, and he received a recorded audition for BBC at Goodwood on Easter Monday the following year.

His radio broadcast debut came at the 1949 British Grand Prix, launching a 13-year tenure of commentary of the Isle of Man TT alongside his father, before his father’s passing in 1962. He remained the BBC’s lead motorcycle commentator for several years after.

Walker finally went full time in the Formula One world for the 1976 season, after occasional broadcasts earlier in the decade, and worked alongside 1976 F-1 world champion James Hunt from the Monaco Grand Prix in 1980 through the 1993 Canadian Grand Prix.

Following Hunt’s passing midway through the 1993 season, Walker remained with the BBC through the end of the 1996 campaign, when he followed Britain’s F-1 television rights deal to ITV and paired with Martin Brundle in the commentary box.

Walker retired from full-time Formula One commentary following the 2001 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he was awarded an original brick from the racing surface by then-track president Tony George.

Walker’s autobiography, “Unless I’m Very Much Mistaken,” was published in late 2002 following his retirement from regular television work. He returned to the BBC briefly at the end of 2005 for the inaugural race of the Grand Prix Masters series and served as an ambassador for the Honda Racing F1 Team for half of the 2006 season.

Over the next decade, Walker appeared in various selected broadcast and journalistic capacities surrounding F-1 before finally stepping back in 2018 due to his declining health.

“The Formula One family is immensely sad to hear that Murray Walker has passed away,” read a statement from F-1 officials on Saturday. “His passion and love of the sport inspired millions of fans around the world. He will forever be a part of our history, and will be dearly missed.”

“It is with great sadness that I have to inform Silverstone’s fans that Murray Walker died earlier today,” added Silverstone Circuit managing director Stuart Pringle. “He was to so many of us fans of F-1, the voice that epitomized the sport we love. Knowledgeable beyond words and with a passion that occasionally got the better of him in commentary, he brought the sport and some of its greatest moments to life in a way that ensured they remained seared in our memories for ever.

“Much will be written about the impact that Murray had on the sport … but for the time being, rest in peace Murray, and thank you.”

SAKHIR, Bahrain – After a rocky start to preseason testing, Valtteri Bottas put Mercedes AMG Petronas back on top of the Formula One time sheets Saturday at Bahrain Int’l Circuit.

Bottas lapped the 3.363-mile, 15-turn circuit in 1:30.289 with his No. 77 Mercedes W12 to lead the 16 drivers that turned at least one timed lap during the second day of F-1 testing.

Bottas’ best lap of 58 total was turned on the softest Pirelli tire compound available, the C5 compound.

“It was a lot better for me than yesterday, for sure,” said Bottas, who battled gearbox issues on Friday in Bahrain and only completed six laps. “I finally managed to get some laps and some clean runs to really learn about the new car and try some things. It’s always good when you learn and that’s what testing is all about – the opportunity to run different things and see how the car reacts. As a driver you use that information in a race weekend so it’s hugely important. If the set-up changes work or don’t work, it’s all valuable information.

“For sure it’s windier here than we’ve had at a race, but one of the bigger issues with the car is the rear end; it’s quite snappy and unforgiving,” Bottas added. “With the new tires, it’s quite sensitive, so we need to calm the car down a bit.”

Though Bottas was pleased with his pace, he admitted that leading testing this early in the game isn’t necessarily indicative of what the season will hold.

“It’s so difficult to say what that means. I can’t be jumping around happy because it is only testing,” Bottas noted. “As always, we are just focused on getting through our program and maximizing the learning. You never know what fuel loads people are running. Hopefully by the end of tomorrow, we will have a better idea of where we are.

“Testing is limited and a lot more compromised this year for everyone, because you have less time in the car before the first race. I would be happy if we could just get through the final day tomorrow nice and clean,” he added. “Today felt good and the times were pretty fast, so I just want more laps and more feeling with the car.”

Pierre Gasly was second for AlphaTauri at 1:30.413, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll third at 1:30.460. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi were fourth and fifth fastest, respectively.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Williams’ Nicholas Latifi, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso completed the top 10 runners.

Bottas’ Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton was 15th fastest of the 16 drivers that tested Saturday, after a spin at turn 13 hampered Hamilton’s early efforts.

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Iconic race car driver, writer, broadcaster, entrepreneur and motivational speaker Lyn St. James will serve as the honorary starter for Sunday’s Instacart 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway.

The Instacart 500 is set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

“It’s an honor to have Lyn at our event and waving the green flag for the start of Sunday’s Instacart 500,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “Lyn is a motorsports icon and a pioneer for women in this industry. With March being Women’s History Month, it’s only fitting that we have Lyn be a major part of this weekend’s action at Phoenix Raceway.”

St. James is one of only nine women to have qualified for the Indianapolis 500 and became the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award in 1992.

In 1985, St. James became the first woman to eclipse 200 mph on a race track when she reached 204.233 mph at Talladega Superspeedway. In 1995, during Indianapolis 500 qualifying, she again set a closed-course world record for women, reaching 225.722 mph.

St. James was also named by Sports Illustrated as one of the “Top-100 Women Athletes of the Century.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Brandon Paasch, at only 19 years old, used an old, veteran move common to Daytona Int’l Speedway winners to capture Saturday’s 79th Daytona 200 in breathtaking fashion.

After running second for most of the last portion of the race, Paasch reeled in leader Sean Dylan Kelly using the draft and calculated a perfect slingshot move at the entrance of the tri-oval as the duo came to the checkered flag, winning by just .031 of a second.

Paasch took home the traditional Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch and the title at America’s most historic motorcycle road race during the 80th annual Bike Week.

“I have been dreaming about that pass since 2019,” said Paasch, who finished fifth that year in the Daytona 200. “For me to see it coming to fruition, it is kinda crazy. Somehow we pulled it off. I just kept digging and my hope was to run him down. It was kinda surreal for me at the end to cross the line first.

“It just doesn’t feel real right now. I am at a loss for words.”

Battling an ankle injury and off his bike for at least two weeks, Paasch (R6 600 Yamaha) edged Kelly (GSXR 600 Suzuki) and Tyler O’Hara (ZX6R 636 Kawasaki) in the 54-rider field that put on a show with plenty of side-by-side racing and at times riders running three- and four-wide.

Paasch posted both the best lap (1:49.752) and best speed (115.132).

The race winner was riding with a purpose this weekend. He pledged half of his winnings to rider Lloyd Bayley’s family.

Bayley, from DeLand, Fla., died tragically during an ASRA sanctioned motorcycle race at Homestead-Miami Speedway late last year. Bayley was known as “Ironman” in ASRA and served as a mentor to Paasch early in his racing career.

Kelly, who finished second in the last Daytona 200 held in 2019, was dominant and led the most laps but came up just feet short at the finish.

“The 200 is never easy and this one definitely hurt the most,” said Kelly, who was just .213 seconds short in ’19 to winner Kyle Wyman. “Getting passed today right at the finish line after 200 miles is something tough. It’s hard for it to sink in, but at the end of the day we did our best, we did everything we could. We led a lot of laps today. Hopefully I will get another opportunity to run the 200 and we’re going to fight for that Rolex.”

Sanctioned by the American SportBike Racing Ass’n, the Daytona 200 showcased 600cc sportbikes on the Speedway’s 3.51-mile Daytona Road Course in a 57-lap, 200-mile endurance race.

Its roots go back to the sands of Daytona Beach where they began racing on a 4.2-mile shoreline course in 1937 before moving the event to Daytona Int’l Speedway and incorporating the high banks of the World Center of Racing in 1961.

Wyman’s quest for consecutive wins ended early while he was running in the top three but lost control on lap 18. His front wheel touched the rear wheel of a lap rider between turns two and three.

Fourth went to Michael Barnes, while four-time event winner Danny Eslick finished fifth as he attempted to become the third five-time champion of the Daytona 200.

The Daytona 200 was the final major race of the 80th annual Bike Week.

Dustin Johnson's tee shot Saturday at TPC Sawgrass' 17th hole was too good.

From 121 yards out, Johnson hit a near-perfect wedge and then watched as his ball clanged off the flagstick and kicked left into the water.

"I mean, I pulled it a yard maybe," Johnson said. "I was trying to hit it a yard right of the flag. I hit it right at it. Obviously, it was unfortunate it hit the flag and went in the water, but it happens."

Johnson went on to double-bogey the hole and finished with a 1-over 73. He's even par through 54 holes.

"That just sums up my week right there," he said. "I don't know, I felt like I'm playing good, just not scoring very well, missing some short putts. ... The golf course is definitely – it's not the golf course, it's all me."

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Dustin Johnson confirmed on Saturday that he will not play in the Olympics this summer.

After his third round of The Players Championship, the world No. 1 said that he didn’t sign up for the Tokyo Games and would rather focus on the PGA Tour schedule.

“It’s right in the middle of a big stretch of golf for me, so that was the reason I was kind of waffling on it a little bit,” said Johnson, who also opted not to play for the U.S. team in 2016, citing concerns over the Zika virus.

The men’s tournament, scheduled for July 29-Aug. 1 in Saitama, Japan, is in the midst of a busy stretch for the best players in the world, beginning a week and a half after The Open Championship in England. The four-day event is a week prior to the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis and only two weeks before the start of the FedExCup playoffs. The Ryder Cup begins two weeks after the Tour Championship.

“It’s a lot of traveling at a time where it’s important for me to feel like I’m focusing playing on the PGA Tour,” Johnson said. He added that he “definitely” would have considered playing if there was more space between the tournaments.

The next four Americans on the qualifying list – Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau – remain available to play in the Summer Games. Qualifying ends the week after the U.S. Open in June.