Usain Bolt has his sights on the 200-meter world record, too.
The Jamaican, who set the 100 record of 9.72 seconds in New York on May 31, will skip that race Sunday at the star-studded Tsiklitiria meet.
“In Athens, I am running my favorite event to see how far my body will go,” Bolt said Thursday. “One day I will get the record … eventually. My aim is to improve on my personal record.”
Bolt is still not sure if he will compete in both the 100 and 200 at the Beijing Olympics.
“This is a decision my coach and I will make at the last moment. I have two more meetings to run in Europe (before the Olympics) and we’ll see how I feel after those,” Bolt said.
Bolt’s best in the 200 is 19.75 seconds, achieved at altitude last year. He has run a world-best 19.83 this year.
He hopes to win at least two gold medals in Beijing, one being in the 400-meter relay, where Jamaica missed the final in last year’s World Championships.
“Last year, we had a chance to win, but we messed up the baton change,” Bolt said. “If we can pass it around carefully this time, I am certain we will win.”
Other world record holders who will compete at the Tsiklitiria include Dayron Robles of Cuba in the 110 hurdles, Kenyan-born Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar in the 3,000 steeplechase and Osleidys Menendez of Cuba in the women’s javelin.
The list of stars also includes defending Olympic champions Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in the 400 hurdles, Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya in the steeplechase, Stefan Holm of Sweden in the high jump and Christian Olsson of Sweden in the triple jump and Tim Mack of the United States in the pole vault.
A total of 250 athletes will take part in 17 events Sunday.
from: chinadaily.com.cn
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