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Ready for Beijing follow-up, Bolt ‘itching’ to run

Posted by CaribShout on August 13, 2009 at 8:54pm

Usain Bolt at his pre-champs press conference in Berlin (Getty Images) Berlin, Germany – “Itching” to get back into action, Usain Bolt said he’s ready for what may be the signature show case showdown of the 12th IAAF World Championships. “I just can’t wait to get on the track,” the 22-year-old triple Olympic champion said, speaking to a throng of international journalists gathered at Berlin’s sprawling Caribbean style Yaam Club on the city’s east end. “I have no (physical) problems, I’m in really good shape. I’m just itching to run. I can’t wait.” The Jamaican’s post-Beijing big stage Odyssey continues when the heats of the 100m get underway on Saturday morning, the first day of competition. Bolt says he’s not predicting another triple World record performance to outdo his 2008 Olympic achievements, but he’s not ruling that out either. “You never know with me what it’s going to be,” he said. “Last year nobody knew what the World record time was going to be. You never know what’s possible. I just want to run. I just want to go out there.” A year ago, Bolt blasted to a 9.69 performance in the 100, followed up with 19.30 in the 200m, and capped his stay in the Chinese capital as part of the victorious Jamaican relay quartet which clocked 37.10, all World records. But in Beijing, injury kept reigning double World champion Tyson Gay from reaching the final, making their first face-to-face in over a year the most talked about duel of these championships. Bolt too is eagerly awaiting the match. “I’m looking forward to the showdown with Tyson Gay, especially after last season,” he said. But he doesn’t characterize their square off as a do-or-die. In his eyes, it’s simply a race. “It’s a race, a competition, but it’s not a fight. I don’t take it personally, it’s all business for me. So I’m going out there to just compete.” Bolt has yet to win a World senior title – he took 200m silver behind Gay two years ago – but insists that he isn’t feeling any pressure inherent to his role as favourite. “I don’t really put pressure on myself. I go out there and just take it one step at a time over the four rounds. And when it comes to the finals I just do what I have to do. Because I’m always ready to compete at my best.” And he insists that he is ready for Berlin. “(The World championships) are very important because I haven’t won World championships gold. I set a standard for myself and I have to live up to it.” Some see him, with his relaxed and playful pre-race antics, as cocky, but nothing could be further from the truth, he says. He simply enjoys – indeed thrives upon - relaxing before a race because of the confidence he has in his abilities. “You have to be confident. But I’m not too confident. I have confidence in my ability because I train hard. And I know I put the work in. So I’m confident in going out there and doing my best.” His best in Beijing resulted in propelling him to the top of the sporting world. Are even bigger things on the horizon? “I would love to do better,” Bolt said. “But it’s more about going out there and doing my best. If I win, it’s good enough for me. Because I’ve come here to win.” But Bolt also said that nobody, including himself is invincible. “I’m not unbeatable. I’ve said from the beginning of the season that someone can come and beat me on the day.” “But I’m not worried,” he concluded. “I’m ready.” Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

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