BEIJING, China (CMC) – Usain Bolt says he is ready to defend his 100m and 200m sprint titles when competition begins in an eagerly anticipated World Championship in Beijing, China this weekend.The Jamaican sprint sensation told 300 journalists at a news conference yesterday that his training has helped to erase some pre-race concerns and now he is ready to execute.
Bolt, known as a slow starter, says as a result of his training, his slow starts are expected to improve significantly.
“The training is good, everything will come together. The coach is happy and once he is happy, I know I am in good nick. So I am ready to go,” Bolt told a news conference.
“(All) I need to do right now is to execute. We have worked on that and in my last stop-start session on Wednesday, coach was smiling. So thumbs up to me. But I am happy with the way everything has been going, so I am happy with that.”
Bolt, who turns 29 today, told reporters that a joint problem in his left hip has been preventing him from getting to full power on his stride this season.
He has raced in only one meet all season, where he ran a 9.87 in the 100.
Bolt’s main competition is expected to come from American sprinters Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay and Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell, all of whom have served doping suspensions over their careers.
According to Bolt, it is sad that questions about doping in athletics have been grabbing the spotlight on the eve of the World Championships.
“It’s really taking centre stage. All I have been hearing over the past couple of weeks it’s just doping, doping, doping,” he said.
“The majority of the questions are about doping. So it’s sad that this is at the forefront of the championship and not about the competition. It’s sad. I can’t do anything about it.”
A recent report from German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times in Britain claims that 146 Olympic and world championship medals in middle- and long-distance races were won by athletes who have recorded suspicious tests.
The report has been strongly condemned by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Gatlin, who has this year’s best time at 9.74 secs, is considered Bolt’s main rival going into the Championships.
“The rules are there for a reason,” said Bolt who appeared to be avoiding the debate around Gatlin’s presence at the games.
“If the rules say you can get back into the sports, that’s not my call. He still has to line up and I still have to compete against him. I abide by the rules and that’s pretty much all.”