Jamaica's Usain Bolt, wrapped in his national flag, holds his shoes as he celebrates winning the men's 200m final at the Beijing Games on Wednesday. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge spoke out Thursday against the celebratory gestures made by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt during his record-breaking performances in the 100 and 200 metre races.

The IOC president praised the achievements of Bolt, 22, comparing him to American great Jesse Owens. But Rogge was critical of Bolt's gestures towards the end of the 100 final and accused him of showing a lack of respect for his fellow competitors.

"I have no problem with him doing a show," Rogge said in an interview with three international news agency reporters. "I think he should show more respect for his competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones immediately after the finish and not make gestures like the one he made in the 100 metres."

In that 100 final, Bolt deliberately slowed near the finish, looked around with arms outstretched and pounded his chest as crossed the finish line in a world record time of 9.69 seconds.

"I understand the joy," Rogge said. "He might have interpreted that in another way, but the way it was perceived was 'Catch me if you can.' You don't do that. But he'll learn. He's still a young man."

On Wednesday, Bolt ran 19.30 seconds into a slight headwind to blow away the field in the 200 final to break American Michael Johnson's 12-year-old record, but he was much more subdued during the race. He didn't slow down and even leaned forward as he crossed the line.

Bolt collapsed on his back after seeing his world record time and then wrapped himself in a Jamaican flag and took off on a solo victory lap around the track.

After that, he danced on the track for the thrilled crowd at Bird's Nest Stadium and put his face inches from a TV camera yelling "I am No. 1! I am No. 1!"

"He still has to mature," Rogge said. "I would love him to show more respect for his competitors. That's not the way we perceive being a champion. But he will learn in time. He should shake hands with his competitors and not ignore them. He'll learn that sooner or later. But (he's) a great athlete, of course."

Bolt was asked for his reaction about the criticism he's received from some track observers after his record-breaking performance in the 200.

"Come on... when you're running, if you see you're going to win, you're going to celebrate," Bolt told CBC Sports. "You're going to be Olympic champion, you're just happy. That's pretty much it.

"We're not worried about time here. When you get on the circuit, then you worry about breaking world records."

Bolt will go for another gold as part of Jamaica's 4x100 relay team, which will run its heat on Thursday.

With files from the Associated Press