Puma denies Bolt shoe kissing deliberate

“It wasn’t something that we staged, we didn’t say: ‘Usain, take the shoes and show them,'” Puma chief executive Jochen Zeitz said.

“He did it because he really identifies with Puma, he really values what we did for him to make him the hero of our Olympic Games campaign not knowing what he could accomplish here.”

The exuberant celebrations by the young sprinter, who celebrated his 22nd birthday today, have raised some eyebrows. Without mentioning the shoe issue, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said Thursday Bolt should make an attempt to show his rivals more respect.