World 100m record holder Usain Bolt still unsure about Olympic Games sprint double

Three days after lowering the men’s 100m World record to an astonishing 9.72, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt was still unsure whether he will compete at the distance at the Beijing Olympic Games.

From his home in Kingston, he explained that it will be his coach of four years, Glen Mills, who will take the final decision.

The Games – Coach will decide

“Well, I said that (I will double at the Olympics) but my coach said that he still hasn’t decided, but I will be doubling at my trials, to keep my options open, so I am not sure exactly what I will be doing but I may…we’re leaning towards deciding that I may be doubling but I am not sure as yet.  The 200 for sure.

“The coach will definitely decide on how we do it.  This is my fourth year with my coach and he has made nothing but good decisions so if he decides that and said we are running the 200m then I am fine with that because he has his reasons and I am sure there will be a good reason. “

The World record – if the weather is good I think I can break it…

Despite being just 21 years old, Bolt who is also the 200m World Junior record holder, can already boast the confidence needed to make it to the very top at the shorter dash.

“Actually I ran in Trinidad two weeks before, because my race in Trinidad wasn’t so good when I ran 9.92 I said to my coach ‘if I get the good weather I think I can break the World record’, and he said ‘don’t worry about that; just to perform at your best ability.’  So, I just went out there and just did my best.  

About his 9.72 he declared: “I knew I had a good start, I could feel it from the start.  I was happy with myself because I have been working hard, especially on my start because that was my weak point.  I have been working hard on that, so I knew exactly from out of the blocks I got a good start.

 “It was great, a lot of people were happy.  (Back in Jamaica) They said they were screaming and that they were really happy that I did it.  A lot of people said that they are just glad I beat Tyson Gay, they are just happy for me, and it was great around here.

“After the race, I just went out with some friends, we just ate some food, we just chilled out pretty much.  It was really late when we got back, so, we couldn’t actually go to parties.”

One of the most relaxed sprinters on the circuit, Bolt confirmed he felt no nervousness before his New York showdown against Tyson Gay.

“I don’t really try to think about (racing) so much.  Like the night before I decide what I need to do.  Tell myself that you need to do this, and you need to do that and then the day on the race I just try to relax, think about other stuff. I try and think about maybe cars or something, otherwise on the race I keep myself relaxed, because if you think about racing too much you may just lose it a little bit.”

I’ve dedicated my whole life to the 200

“Well I am doing good in 100 but I prefer running my 200 because I have been dedicating my whole life really to the 200 and I really would like to get a gold medal at the Olympics in the 200, so I prefer 200 for the Olympics.

“I am not worried about peaking (too early) because my training was geared, you start with some 100, this is for my speed work and then I am starting 200 training actually this week, so I will be doing some speed and endurance.  I am sure I am not at the top of my game yet because I haven’t done my 200 training as yet, I have some speed and endurance to do, and to sharpen up, so I am not at the top of my game.  I am not worried about going any faster now that I have the World record, I don’t need to break it.

What has changed?

“I have matured more really.  After getting the Silver at the World Championships I have matured a lot because I have gotten so near to the goal. I have just changed my attitude a little bit more.  I was serious last year; I am more serious now because I really want it.  And I have done more training I would say, like technical stuff, like my start, I have done a lot of work on my start and my transitions, so those are the two main things I have changed.

“I have gone to the gym more.  I would say.  I was very reluctant to go to the gym but my coach said we were going to do the 100m to get my strength up so I have gone to the gym more.

“I used to go to gym less but I started going more. I never really liked the gym.  From when I was young I don’t really like weights but I go to the gym more; less partying I would say.  I still go, but less partying.  I just got more serious; when I go there I put my mind to the work, sometimes it is hard and you just want to stop but I put my mind to it, I try my best at all times.

“I don’t really drink a lot, I do drink but I don’t really drink a lot, but I would say I like to dance.  I like music a lot; I normally go out a little more than I should so I stopped doing that now.”

Usain and Asafa

“We have a very good relationship.  He called me and told me congrats and I actually saw him this morning when I was training, and he was training also.  So we talked and we laughed, he is a good friend, we have a good relationship.

“I don’t know (if Asafa can run sub 9.70 as he’s declared), but Asafa is a great athlete and I respect him a lot.  We’re good friends, so if he said he can do it, I think he can do it, but I am not really worried about World records.  I got my World record so I am just happy and enjoying it right now, I am just really looking forward to the upcoming Olympics.

Sprint Relay record in danger too?

“I think so, if the baton goes around. Last year we had a wonderful team and we messed up really bad in the baton change so I think if the baton goes right as well as it’s supposed to go, it should…the World record is going to go…I think we could break it.”

Jamaican Trials

“I am definitely going to run.  A lot of people are building up these trials to be a big thing but I don’t think the trials will be that big because I am not really going there to race Asafa I am going there just to make the team.  Maybe in another track meet if we meet then there will be the showdown but in the trials I don’t think it will be a big deal.  I don’t think it will be a big deal to me.

“I just want to make the team, really.  I am not really worried because there are two events so I have to worry about the 200.

Opening 200m in Ostrava

“Ostrava is a cold place I would say, but I don’t predict my 200 times until I actually run my first 200, so after the 200 in Ostrava then I can maybe predict what time I can run, how fast I can go.

“I really look forward to my 200m every season because I have been working hard on my 200m for years now. I have done a tremendous amount of work so I really look forward to my 200 every year, and this year is no different.  I am just going to work hard because I want to be one of the best 200m runners ever; I have been working hard this year definitely to become one of the best.”

IAAF