Spearmon thinks he'll be too sharp for Bolt

Published on Friday 8 August 2008 23:05

WALLACE Spearmon Jr is hoping he can stop Usain Bolt achieving an Olympic sprint double.

Spearmon, out to beat his friend in the 200 metres, believes if Bolt is to win 100m gold he will have to again smash the world record.

The former world silver medallist and fourth-fastest 200m runner of all time is confident he will have enough of an edge over Bolt – who has finally got the go-ahead from his coach to double up in Beijing.

The world 100m record-holder will therefore face a programme of eight races in six days – in pursuit of a feat last achieved by Carl Lewis in 1984.

Spearmon is tipping Bolt, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay – winner of both sprint golds at last summer's world championships – to move the 100m record into a new era.

With Gay still in Germany having treatment for an injury which has prevented him competing since June at the USA Olympic trials, the Caribbean pair are favourites for a one-two.

Spearmon said: "I have to say this is one of the most impressive Games I've seen for the 100m, with so many people running 9.7seconds.

"Asafa has run it several times in one year; he hasn't run it yet this season, but I know he can. Bolt's run two 9.7s back-to-back, so this is something the world has never seen.

"Those guys are really talented, and they've worked pretty hard this year – so I honestly think Bolt can run 9.6; I think Asafa can run 9.6, and I think a healthy Tyson can run 9.6."

Referring to Donovan Bailey's 1996 Olympic record, Spearmon added: "I think the fastest time of 9.84sec will definitely be broken, even through the rounds."

Spearmon is naturally more concerned, on his Olympic debut, with the 200m."Good luck to him," he said of Bolt. "He's one of my closest friends, and I hope he's ready – because I'm not trying to let him win easy. I hope he stays healthy. I want to see him out there; I don't want the medal easy – I want to work for it.

"I think he can 'medal' in both – but we'll see if he can get gold in both."

The 23-year-old American notes Bolt's hectic schedule. "He'll run four (100m) rounds, but only two of them will mean anything to his body.

"The last two rounds will be tough on him; then going into the 200m, it'll be the same thing. People running the 100m and 200m – they only have a day off in between both races.

"I'm just running the 200m. I feel like I'll be fresh enough to get through the rounds and be in medal contention."

Five of the last six Olympic 100 metres champions have been tainted, or in some cases stained to the core, by doping, with 1996 winner Bailey of Canada the odd man out.