Bolt knocks ‘spoiled’ Jamaican sprinters
Olympic sprint great Usain Bolt sees struggle ahead for Jamaica’s men at the world championships, claiming the Caribbean nation’s “spoiled” young sprinters lack the discipline to train and the hunger for success.
Bolt, who won eight Olympic gold medals and led Jamaica through a golden era in sprinting, said he felt motivation levels had fallen since his retirement after the London world championships in 2017.
“I don’t think it’s going to get any better because I think these youngsters are a little bit spoiled,” the 32-year-old said, pointing to their attitude to training.
“When I was around, I think the motivation was there and we worked hard, and the level was high. But now that I have left the sport, I feel it has dropped.”
The Jamaican men had a disappointing Commonwealth Games last year, picking up bronzes in both the 100m individual and relay events despite the relatively weak fields.
Bolt was more positive about Jamaica’s hopes in the women’s events at the Sept. 28Oct. 6 world championships in Doha, Qatar with Shellyann Fraser-pryce and Elaine Thompson jointly holding the year’s best time of 10.73 seconds in the 100m.
“If we’re going to fail, it will be on the male side, but I feel like the females will hold up their end and will do well, but we’ll see what happens.”
Bolt said Jamaica’s women simply have more ambition and drive than their male counterparts.
“It’s the fact the females, I must say, are smarter,” he said.
Peter Sagan burst into life on the Tour de France when he claimed the fifth stage at the end of a 175.5-km bumpy ride from St Die des Vosges on Wednesday.
The three-time world champion beat Belgian Wout van Aert and Italian Matteo Trentin in a sprint finish to strengthen his grip on the points classification as he looks to secure a record-breaking seventh green jersey.
France’s Julian Alaphilippe retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
Alaphilippe leads Van Aert, who picked up a six-second bonus by finishing second, by 14 seconds with Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk, the biggest threat to the Frenchman, in third place and 25 seconds off the pace.
Lewis Hamilton’s home British Grand Prix will stay at Silverstone for at least the next five years under a new deal announced by Formula One on Wednesday.
The race’s future had been in doubt since 2017, when a break clause was activated to terminate the contract after this weekend’s race.
The British Racing Drivers’ Club that owns the circuit argued the previous contract was no longer financially viable due to escalating fees.
Formula One said the new deal ensured the circuit, which hosted the first world championship Grand Prix in 1950, would remain on the calendar until at least the end of 2024.