 Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt speaks during a news conference in Daegu Thursday. / Yonhap |
Main rival Powell pulls out of 100 meters due to groin problems
By Yoon Chul
DAEGU ― Usain Bolt has been the talk of the Daegu Athletic Worlds and the Jamaican superstar sprinter is eager to put the hype machine on overdrive.
Perhaps his confidence was stoked after compatriot and main rival Asafa Powell was forced to pull out of the men’s 100 meters due to a groin problem. This dramatically improves Bolt’s prospects for a third-consecutive 100-meter crown at the world championships, a feat accomplished only by Americans Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene so far, as Daegu will also be missing U.S. standout Tyson Gay.
``I want to be a legend,” Bolt said during the Jamaican team press conference, Thursday.
``It’s very important. This world championships will pretty much be the first step toward (me) becoming a legend. I am very focused on it.’’
The sidelining of Powell and Bolt is clearly a letdown for Daegu organizers, who had hoped they will provide a serious challenge to Bolt’s supremacy. Recovering from back and Achilles’ tendon problems, Bolt has been struggling to regain his top form this season. His best 100-meter record this year, clocked at Monaco’s Diamond League track meet in July, is 9.88 seconds, compared to his world-record time of 9.58 seconds.
In the news conference, Bolt admitted he is not in the ``tip top’’ shape he was at the Berlin world championships two years ago and at the Beijing Olympics before that, where he registered himself as a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon with world record-shattering performances in the 100- and 200- meter competitions.
Although Bolt came short of promising any world records, he was bold enough to predict the colors of his medals.
“This season, for me, is come back season. I am working really hard this season to get back in shape. But I don’t think I can show 9.5, but I will be able to do 9.6 (seconds),’’ he said.
“I think people expect a lot from me. For me pressure was always there since I won a gold medal. For me it is always the same thing.”
Bolt said he was feeling fine physically.
“I am fine. We get a little pain everyday on the back leg. Put some ice on there and it’s fine,’’ Bolt said.
Missing out on the 100-meter competitions, Powell is expected to join Bolt as a leg of Jamaica’s 4x100-meter relay team.
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