Bolt admits to ‘stiff back’ but says he’s ready to go

Published on 27/07/2012 05:17

Usain Bolt insists he is fit and ready for the Olympics and is convinced his defence of the 100 metres title could trigger one of the fastest ever races in the blue riband sprint.

The 25-year-old Jamaican said he had been training well after a minor hamstring problem and reiterated his desire to become a “legend” of the sport by defending his 100m and 200m crowns.

Concerns about the fitness of the biggest name in track and field arose when cameras were banned from his training sessions and he was pictured receiving treatment on his hamstring.

Bolt dismissed those concerns, saying a stiff back causing some problems for his hamstring had been fixed.

“I’m always ready,” he said last night. “It’s all about the championships, it’s not about the trials, it’s not about one run, every 
athlete knows this.

“My coach determines whether we train in front of cameras or not, he doesn’t like the cameras.

“I went and I trained, I had slight problems but nothing too serious, I got that fixed and I’ve been training great. I’m ready to go, I came into the camp today and felt that chill, that’s a good vibe so I’m happy.”

Bolt’s aura of invincibility was dented earlier this month when he was beaten over both 100m and 200m by training partner and world champion Yohan Blake at the Jamaican trials.

“I’ve been beaten before the Olympics before, Asafa [Powell] did it in ’08, it’s always a wake-up call but it’s better at the trials than at the Olympics,” Bolt said. “I sit down and rethink a few things. But it’s just about getting it right on the day.”

Blake’s time in the 100m at the trials, 9.75 seconds, was the fastest of the year but he is not the only challenger to Bolt’s crown.

Justin Gatlin, the Athens Olympic champion, returned from a four-year doping ban to run 9.80secs to win the US trial and fellow American Tyson Gay also ran under 10 seconds.