Athletics: Johnson doubtful over Bolt bid

LONDON: Track great Michael Johnson has placed doubt on Usain Bolt’s plans to win four gold medals at next year’s London Olympics. Bolt is set to defend the 100-metre (m) and 200-m Olympic titles he won in Beijing, where he was also a member of Jamaica’s victorious 4x100m relay team. Bolt is aiming to win a fourth gold by also competing in the 4x400m relay, but Johnson said Bolt would struggle with the longer distance. “You can’t train for the 400 as well, it would be an absolute distraction,” said Johnson. “He can’t just step onto the track and run a 44 or a 43-second split just off 100 and 200m training.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2011.