Never write me off, warns Bolt after dominant treble

BEIJING: Usain Bolt has warned that people write him off at their peril after the imperious Jamaican sealed another world treble gold despite an injury-hit season.

Bolt anchored Jamaica to victory in the 4x100m relay to add to his wins in both the 100m and 200m, trumping his much-touted and controversial American rival Justin Gatlin. It was Bolt’s fifth treble gold showing in major championships, having performed the same feat at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and world championships in 2009 and 2013.

“This is even better, just to prove everyone wrong,” Bolt said of his treble in Beijing. “This season has been rough. I’m just hoping that next season won’t be like this.”

Bolt added, however, that there “was never any pressure”.

“I came out here and proved everybody that you can never call Usain Bolt out. I’m a champion and I show up when it matters.”

Bolt insisted, however, that he would wait until after next year’s Rio Olympics before allowing himself the right to be called a legend of the sporting world.

“I think I’m getting there!” he said with some understatement.

‘BOLT EXIT AKIN TO ALI’S’

Meanwhile, new IAAF president Sebastian Coe said that athletics will survive when Bolt eventually retires, just like boxing did after Muhammad Ali’s retirement.

“I do sort of feel that I’m in sort of 1960s, 1970s time warp,” Coe said on the final day of the championships. “It’s the kind of conversation that was probably taking place in boxing at that time as to what happens after Muhammad Ali retires.”

However, Coe admitted that Bolt would be a tough act to follow.

“Yes, what I believe is that I don’t think any athlete, any sportsman or woman since Muhammad Ali has captured the public imagination and propelled their sport as quickly and as far as Usain Bolt has,” said Coe.

I came here and executed to the best of my ability and got three gold medals... I came out here and proved everybody that you can never call Usain Bolt out. I’m a champion and I show up when it matters

USAIN BOLT, on proving his doubters wrong