News24 Jul 2008


Beijing, “I definitely want to double,” says Bolt – IAAF World Athletics Tour, London

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Usain Bolt (JAM) - 200m heats (© Getty Images)

Usain Bolt wants to run both the 100m and 200m at next month’s Olympic Games in Beijing, he revealed today, although the final decision will be up to his coach, Glen Mills.

“I definitely want to double,” said the tall Jamaican on the eve of the Aviva London Grand Prix – IAAF World Athletics Tour meet at Crystal Palace where he will race over 200m.

“This is Olympic year and you have to take it seriously,” said the 100m World record holder*. “But I don’t know what I’ll be doing, that’s up to my coach.”

“He hasn’t given me a clue about when he’ll decide. He wants to leave it until the latest possible time. I just have to get ready to do every event.”

“He has made nothing but good decisions for me so far so I won’t start to question him now. What his criteria are for deciding I don’t know. I just do exactly what he says.”

Mills said at the end of June that Bolt’s inexperience at running so many races in such a short time is one factor that might force him to drop his 100m ambitions.

“If I do run the 100 the only thing on my mind will be to win,” added Bolt. “But I’ve no part in this decision.”

Bolt insists the 200m is still his main goal for the year. And after running the world’s quickest time and a Caribbean record of 19.67 in Athens two weeks ago, he will be looking to improve again when he races in London on Saturday afternoon (26).

“I’ll just be trying to correct what went wrong in Athens,” he said. “A PB would be great but it’s not the main factor. The main thing is to get the technical aspects right.”

Powell was “surprised” by Bolt’s record

Bolt set the 100m record in New York on 31 May, replacing his compatriot Asafa Powell as the quickest man in the world.

Powell admitted today that Bolt’s World record had been a shock. “He came on very suddenly and surprised the world with his record. I was surprised.”

“It was very important to beat him this week.”

After running 9.88, his quickest this year, to beat Bolt in Stockholm on Tuesday, Powell is looking to lower his season’s best again at Crystal Palace on Friday (25) as he seeks another confidence booster ahead of the Olympic Games. Something under 9.80 may even be on the cards.

“Once I run faster than 9.88 I’ll be confident,” he said. “It’s always good to run 9.7s. I’ve done it six times so no doubt it would be good to do it again.”

Asked whether the absence of Tyson Gay takes the edge off the event he said: “If Tyson Gay is not here I can’t do anything about it. He’s only beaten me once in his life so it doesn’t make any difference to me. I just have to concentrate on myself.”

Powell admitted, though, that his confidence had taken a dent earlier in the year when he feared being forced to miss the Olympics because of the shoulder injury which delayed the start of his season.

“I got very nervous,” he said. “I was very concerned. I’ve had a number of injuries since the start of the year and with the shoulder I thought my Olympics were over.”

“But my confidence came back as soon as I started training again. I still think I’m capable of doing anything I want.”

“I’ve been injured most of the year and I’m still running fast. I’m running 9.8s. If I’d not been injured it would have been a whole different ball game.”

“My one goal this year is the 100m gold in Beijing. No matter who’s there I am going for the gold medal.”

Matthew Brown for the IAAF

*World record subject to usual ratification procedures

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