Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Mo Farah eyes a golden double, vows to bow out in style like Bolt

- Agence France Presse sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

after a second medical examinatio­n on Wednesday.

“The entire year this 100-meter race in London was my focus,” De Grasse said in the statement. “I am really in the best shape of my life and was looking forward to competing against the best in the world.”

De Grasse was a leading contender in the 100- and 200-meter events at the worlds, which start Friday in London. He won bronze in the 100 and silver in the 200 at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Mo Farah will like another athletics superstar Usain Bolt bring the curtain down on his track career at the world championsh­ips with the hopes of a final double golden flourish.

The 34-year-old Briton -- who will switch his focus to road running -- can capture his 10th successive world or Olympic title in the 10000 metres. Then he hopes to bow out in style on the track in London where he achieved his first Olympic double in 2012 with the 5000m on Saturday week.

That will bring to an end a six year spell where like Bolt in the sprints Farah has dominated.

He broke up the previous hegemony of the Kenyans and Ethiopians, lifting his exploits up above those of legends such as Paavo Nurmi, Lasse Viren, Emil Zatopek, Haile Gebrselass­ie and Kenenisa Bekele. However whilst many question how will the sport cope without Bolt and his engaging showmanshi­p -lightning bolt and all -- perhaps unfairly the same has not been said about the vacuum that Farah will leave in his wake. Despite his achievemen­ts -- Olympic (2012/16) and world doubles (2013/15) at 5000m and 10000m -the British public have been left largely unmoved.

The If I show up at a championsh­ips, I’m fully confident. My coach (Glen Mills) is confident and I’m ready to go. I’m fully confident, 100 percent.

 ?? GETTY ?? Bolt and Andre De Grasse (left) shared the podium in Rio.
GETTY Bolt and Andre De Grasse (left) shared the podium in Rio.

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