Bolt says he's not in shape to repeat his 9.58s world record this weekend
Bolt says he's not in shape to repeat his 9.58s world record this weekend
Usain Bolt admits he is not in "tip-top shape" -- but still has his sights set on completing stage one of his two-year plan to become an athletics legend at the World Championships in Daegu.
The Jamaican all but ruled out a repeat of his stunning 9.58 seconds world record when he defends his 100 metres title on Sunday.
Usain Bolt. PIC/Getty Images
The 25-year-old has been hampered by fitness problems since that run two years ago in Berlin. An Achilles tendon injury brought a premature end to his 2010 campaign, while scoliosis, a curvature of the spine he has suffered from since birth, hampered him over the winter. "I'm not in tip-top shape which I was when I was in Berlin," Bolt said. "The season for me is a comeback season from injury, I'm working really hard to get back to top shape. I don't think I'm in 9.5secs shape, but I'll be aiming to run fast." Bolt is unbeaten this year but with a best of, by his standards, a relatively slow 9.88.
His gold medal push has been helped immensely, though, by the withdrawal today of compatriot and world number one Asafa Powell though injury.
With Americans Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers and Jamaican Steve Mullings, all of whom have gone faster that Bolt this season, also missing, victory would appear to be as close to a formality as it gets.
And that would leave the world and Olympic champion and world record holder over 100m and 200m with the chance to seal his legacy at the London 2012 Olympics.
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