By Tom Reynolds

THAMESMEAD sprint ace David Bolarinwa was forced to settle for bronze in the 100m at the Youth Olympic Games as Jamaica unearthed another sprint king in Singapore.

Bolarinwa was the hot favourite to clinch gold, having clocked the fastest U18 time in the world this year of 10.39 seconds earlier this month.

But the 16-year-old was slow out of the blocks could only manage 10.51s in the Lion City as gold went to Jamaica’s Odane Skeen, who took the line honours in a personal best of 10.42s just a few days shy of his 16th birthday.

And while quick to insist he was happy with a spot on the podium, Bolarinwa admitted he had learned some harsh lessons both on and off the Bishan Stadium track.

He said: “I have only been doing this sport for two years so I am not feeling too down about it.

“Other people would be on the floor crying about it but I am not that type of person. I am the type of person who is quite positive in everything I do. I am feeling fantastic about winning a medal.

“I didn’t live up to my standards today but a medal is a medal and it’s fantastic.

“The other guys like the Jamaican practiced about three or four times and I only did it twice so that is something I would have done differently.

“I would have focused more on trying to get out first because I had to chase people.”

Bolarinwa arrived in the final topping the rankings from his heat but paid the price for a sluggish start and having allowed Skeene, and eventual silver medallist Masaki Nashimoto, to get away he never looked like clawing the advantage back.

It still needed a photo finish to separate the Londoner and Japanese ace Nashimoto but Bolarinwa’s time of 10.51s was not enough.

And while Skeene and Bolarinwa’s war of words from the village spilt over into the mixed zone, the 16-year-old accepted the best man won.

“The Jamaican guy was talking smack about me about three or four days ago but I took it on the chin,” added Bolarinwa.

“He came up to me after the race and said unlucky and I said well done. We have got to be friendly.

“Earlier this week he had come up to me and said ‘who’s Bolarinwa and blah blah blah’.

“But to be fair to him, he talked the talk and walked the walk.” Lloyds TSB are the proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games.

For more information, visit LloydsTSB.com/London2012