Glasgow 2014: Usain Bolt ‘desperate to take part’

Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history, has underlined his desire to compete for Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – but only in the 200m.

Usain Bolt was happy to pose for the media as he signed copies of his autobiography. Picture: AP

With six Olympic golds and eight World Championship victories under his belt, Bolt is widely regarded as the best sprinter of all time. But there is one gap in the 27-year-old’s collection – a Commonwealth medal. Bolt was due to attend the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 before pulling out with a hamstring injury. But, with no World Championships or Olympics next year, Bolt craves the buzz of a major event and it now looks more likely than ever that the dual world-record holder will grace Hampden Park next summer.

“I have said to my coach that I would love to go to the Commonwealths,” Bolt said yesterday at a book signing session for his autobiography Faster than Lightning.

“It’s something that I haven’t done before. It’s up to him, but I have said to him that I want to be a part of it. My coach will think about it and we will see what he says.”

Later, on Radio 5 Live, Bolt added: “It’s on my to-do list. I really want to do it but I never go against my coach. It [the 100m and 200m double] probably would be unlikely. I probably would run the 200m if I go because it’s my favourite event.”

Ticket sales for Glasgow 2014 have already been very strong, but interest in the event would surge if Bolt’s coach, Glen Mills, confirms that he will be there.

Glasgow 2014 comes two years before the Rio Olympics, where Bolt hopes to become the first sprinter to win three 100 metres gold medals in a row.

He had stated an intention to call time on his sparkling career in 2016, but is now having a rethink following a plea from his supporters and financial backers. “I am definitely reconsidering [retiring after Rio],” Bolt added. “I think my fans, especially, have really voiced their concern about me retiring.

“They think I should carry on and so do my sponsors. I think it’s on the cards that I will extend it by one more year.”

Bolt would break Linford Christie’s record as the oldest-ever Olympic sprint champion if he won in Tokyo in 2020, but he insists that does not appeal to him. He said: “If I win the next Olympics I will have done everything I wanted to do in my career.”