Usain Bolt took his first, somewhat stuttering, steps towards what he hopes will be a glorious World Championship farewell on Friday when he recovered from a poor start to win his heat in the first round of the 100 metres in 10.07 seconds.

The Jamaican is seeking his fourth gold in the event he has won the 100m at every World Championships since 2009 apart from 2011 in Daegu when he was disqualified for a false start.

Bolt was critical of the starting blocks used at the race and said they feel ‘really uncomfortable’.

“I think these are the worst blocks. We had them in Russia. I didn’t like them and I still don’t like them. I think they’re really uncomfortable, I don’t feel as good as I normally feel comfortably in these blocks but I have to use what I get so,” Bolt said.

America’s world and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, twice banned for doping offences, was loudly booed by many in the 55,000 crowd when his name was announced and again when he won his heat in 10.05.

American 21-year-old Christian Coleman, fastest man in the world this year with 9.92, looked smooth in winning the first heat in 10.01.

Twice world 400 metres champion Christine Ohuruogu also became Britain’s most decorated female athlete when she received three medals as part of the 4x400m relay teams from 2009, 2011 and 2013 – two bronze and a silver upgraded from bronze.

It happened after medals in 11 different events from four previous worlds were stripped from other athletes following positive drug tests.

Gold was also awarded to the United States 4x400m team from the Moscow 2013 worlds.