ATHLETICS-DIAMOND/BOLT Bolt relishes London and Beijing races but is not athletics' 'saviour'

Record ID: 149394

  • Title: ATHLETICS-DIAMOND/BOLT Bolt relishes London and Beijing races but is not athletics' 'saviour'
  • Date: 23rd July 2015
  • Summary: LONDON, UK (JULY 23, 2015) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** JAMAICAN OLYMPIC AND WORLD CHAMPION SPRINTER USAIN BOLT NEWS CONFERENCE / PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMAICAN OLYMPIC AND WORLD CHAMPION SPRINTER USAIN BOLT SAYING OF HIS CONDITION: "Well I won't know until tomorrow. We've been training good. I've been really working hard. My coach s
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  • Reuters ID: LVA6OQK2JHONA6KWL28KU4NEQOXA
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  • Story Text: Usain Bolt said on the eve of London's Diamond Games on Friday (July 24) that he's been working hard through injury and is expecting to do well in the city and at the World Championships in Beijing in August.
    The Jamaican Olympic and World champion sprinter and record holder also told a crowded news conference on Thursday that he gets frustrated and angry with drugs cheats, but is not the 'saviour' of athletics.
    After an injury-plagued 2014 and suffering pelvic problems this year, Bolt has run five times this season, only once over 100m, when he clocked 10.12 seconds in Brazil in April.
    Asked about his condition, Bolt said: "Well I won't know until tomorrow. We've been training good.I've been really working hard. My coach said I just need to continue pushing forward. So I've just been in training in this, don't have to do - keep working on what I have to work on and then we'll see what happens tomorrow."
    The 28-year-old, six-time Olympic gold medallist, eight-time world champion and 100m and 200m world record holder at 9.58 and 19.19 will be defending his titles at the world championships in Beijing starting on August 22 and remains confident.
    "I never doubt myself. I look forward to competition, Beijing is a month away. I'm not worried about that. I take it a step at a time. I have to run tomorrow. Get through these two races. As I said, I've been training really hard, I've been pushing myself, so it's all about execution now. If I can execute right and get everything right then I know I'll run fast so it's all about getting the timing right and when Beijing comes it will come. But I have to take it a step at a time," said Bolt.
    Asked if he got angry at drugs cheats, the Jamaican replied: "Yes definitely. I would say definitely. Especially throughout the years when you work hard and the sport is getting back a good reputation and then it backslides when other athletes decided that they want to do the wrong thing. It definitely does upset me because then everybody starts pointing fingers again and starts speculating and it doesn't help the sport in any way. So at times I do get frustrated and angry."
    Some journalists and athletics fans have referred to Bolt as the possible 'saviour' of the sport's reputation, but he rejected the label, saying it was up to all athletes to keep the sport clean.
    "A lot of people have been saying that, but I think it's not just only me, but other athletes also. All athletes have the right to try to help the sport and to keep the sport in a good light. I think it's all of us, all of our responsibility. I just do my best, I try to run fast, I do it clean and I think that's just what I have to do and I'll continue doing that. I really am not going to say I'm the only saviour of athletics, but I just have to do my best and stay focussed on the goal I have," said Bolt.
    The fastest man this year, Justin Gatlin of the USA, has not been invited to race in London because he has served two doping bans, but he will meet Bolt in Beijing.
    The Jamaican said that his relatively poor form so far this season did not mean he would do badly in August.
    "For me, I'm not worried about times. It's all about just getting everything right because the one thing everybody knows: sometimes I struggle through the season. I remember 2011 I was really struggling (then) when it came to the championship I was in great form, although I false-started (in the 100m) but the 200 was pretty good. So I think it takes time and sometimes it takes getting to the big moment to really get ready and get focussed, so I'm just trying to focus on getting everything right, but I'm sure when I get to the championships I'll always be ready, so I'm definitely looking forward to it and it should be a good run," said Bolt.
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