Usain Bolt (front). Photo by AP.
Usain Bolt says that his biggest goal at the London
Olympics in two years' time will be simply to win the 100
meters gold medal again, even though he believes the distance
can be run in a record breaking 9.4-second range.
"I'm always just happy with a gold medal," the Jamaican
sprint star told The Associated Press. "If we go there and
nobody breaks a record, I'll always have the record and
there's no worries for me."
At Beijing in 2008, he smashed the world record in both the
100 and 200 and celebrated in style - shooting that fake bow
and arrow into the sky before the race, dancing after the
finish line and turning the Bird's Nest into his own private
playground. He improved on his 100-meter record last year at
the world championships. It currently stands at 9.58 seconds
and he thinks he can go lower.
"I always say that probably 9.4 is possible," Bolt said. "I
hope I can be the one to get there because I work very hard
and I want nothing but to be the best."
To be a "legend," though, he doesn't believe he'll have to
set another record in London. He'll merely have to win.
"I don't think I'm a legend now," he said. "A lot of people
have done it one time. If I can double, few people in the
world can say they're double Olympic gold medalists. I want
to be one of those few people."
Carl Lewis is the only male runner to repeat in the 100 at
the Olympics.
Bolt is also looking beyond 2012, when he would consider
competing in the long jump for a change of pace. Earlier this
year, he said he might have to do something else "because
people are probably tired of seeing me."
People getting tired of Usain Bolt? Hardly seems possible.
"I think definitely they can if you win all the time," he
said. "The reason people enjoy seeing me is because I'm
different from other athletes. It's fun to watch me. If I
keep that up, they probably won't get bored. If I just win,
win, win like a normal athlete and don't make it fun, they
probably will."
One way Bolt is keeping things fresh is by changing his
racewear for each of this year's Diamond League meets in
Europe. An artist in each city is designing a new singlet for
him to wear.
"People really enjoy it and it's something to look forward
to," he said. "It's something new. I think people like it.
I'm the one who does things like this that no one else will
do."
Bolt is scheduled to face Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell in the
100 for the first time this year at a meet next week in
Stockholm.
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