However, Bolt’s finally got his wish and entered to run the 100 metres event at the 23rd Vardinoyiannia meeting in Rethymno, Crete, aged 18 years-old.
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Less than a month ago, there were questions about whether Bolt would get the opportunity to compete in the 2016 Games. Bolt has said he is targeting three medals at this year’s Olympics; the 100m, 200m and 4 X 100m.
One way or another, the legendary olympian is going to have fun on his way out, and we should all try and enjoy it with him.
Although the Russian doping scandal exposed the sophisticated lengths that drug cheats were prepared to go to avoid detection, Bolt said he was unconcerned about the possibility that he might be lining up against rivals in Rio who are not clean. But then Bolt got wishy-washy about that decision again and could retire after these Games.
Usain Bolt in the new Puma Ignite Disc running sneakers.
Bolt said lowering his 200-meter record, which stands at 19.19 seconds, below the 19 mark, is something he wants.
No one in athletics – and few in sport – draw crowds like Bolt and how to fill the void he will leave when he is gone is turning into one of track and field’s biggest dilemmas. It’s been boring just sitting around training all the time.
UB: “This is my second one with them and it is really exciting”. No Canadian reached the final. The Jamaican track and field star outlined his goal to “run a sub-19” on the 200-meter dash and shared some kind words towards Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce by calling her great and saying, “To know her is an honour”. The last sprinter from Canada to win the event was Donovan Bailey in 1996 in Atlanta. His world record for this category is 9.58 seconds and he hopes to do that again. Bolt is the only person to win the 100-, 200- and 4x100m relay in consecutive Olympics. He is also targeting a new world record in the 200m. He also swept those three events at the 2009, 2013 and 2015 World Championships. But when pressed about how sure he was the 100m final would be free from drugs, he shrugged his shoulders.
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As such his press conferences are never ordinary, but even by his standards this was something a bit special. The 11-time world champion has struggled with his form and injury this season, with his 100m time of 9.88sec ranked fourth fastest behind Americans Justin Gaitlin (9.80s) and Trayvon Bromell (9.84s), and France’s Jinny Vicaut (9.86s). You’re not going to find anyone bigger than Bolt any time soon and what did that do for the sport?
