Bolt said he is looking to defend his titles at the next Olympics in Rio in 2016. PHOTO: AFP
Usain Bolt revealed a track master plan that includes defending his Olympic sprint titles in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 after powering to a third successive world 200m title.
It was the Jamaican’s seventh world gold medal after winning the 100 and 200m at the Berlin worlds in 2009, the 200m in Daegu in 2011, the 100m in Moscow and golds as part of the winning Jamaican 4x100m relay squads in both 2009 and 2011.
“My main goal was to make myself a legend,” said Bolt, after comfortably winning at the Luzhniki Stadium in a world-lead best of 19.66 seconds despite easing off fully 15 metres from the finish line.
Jamaican teammate Warren Weir won silver in 19.79s, with unheralded American Curtis Mitchell, a training partner of the banned Tyson Gay, taking bronze in 20.04.
“And now, my goal is to defend my titles at the next Olympics as it hasn’t been done before by anyone, and this world championships is a stepping stone towards that goal.
“I’m working hard to pile on gold medals and remain undefeated in championships, then go to the Olympics and win the 100 and 200m again.
“I’m not worried about winning medals and counting them.”
Bolt shelves idea of participating in long jump
Bolt, who won three golds (100, 200, 4x100m relay) in both the Beijing Games in 2008 and in London last year, said: “I want to go to the Olympics in Rio and dominate.
“The key thing now is that it’s getting harder to run as fast,” he said, stressing that any idea of him participating in the long jump had been shelved.
“I have to be focused [in the run-up to Rio]. I can’t mess around and get injured during the long jump. It’s been decided I’m not going to do the long jump.”
Bolt is the world record holder in both the 100 and 200m (9.58 and 19.19s respectively set in the Berlin worlds in 2009), but he said trying to go one better was not important.
“For me it’s all about winning championships,” he said. “I never stress about times. If I can run 20s flat and win the 200m, I’d be happy. It’s all about winning gold medals.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2013.
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