Usain Bolt has vowed to push for the world record in the 200m final at the Olympic Games in Rio.

The 29-year-old coasted into the semi-finals with a comfortable victory in his heat earlier this afternoon and is the favourite to go on and win gold in the event for the third straight Olympics.

Bolt currently owns the world record of 19.19s, set in 2009, but he is hopeful of breaking that mark in either Wednesday's semi-final or Thursday's final.

"I'm feeling okay, a little bit tired, but it was expected. It's the morning session and I'm not a morning person," he told reporters.

"I didn't really run that hard. I know how to run a 200m. Tomorrow I will show much better progress because I will have to run faster, so I'm looking forward to that.

"Most of the young guys always run fast in the heats, but to win is the key thing because you get a better semi-final. I'll have enough rest and enough energy to definitely try (for the world record). But we will see tomorrow how it goes."

Bolt, who won his seventh Olympic gold medal in the 100m on Sunday, is bidding to complete an unprecedented 'triple triple' of sprint crowns in Brazil.