Bolt sees London as a Jamaican home away from home

LONDON: Usain Bolt reckons London’s thriving Jamaican community could help propel him to another monumental Olympic performance as the sprinter seeks to repeat his triple gold–medal haul from Beijing four years ago.

With less than five months to go until Bolt defends his 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles, the 25–year–old remains characteristically relaxed and hopes his compatriots will roar him to victory.

“I’ve been waiting for this summer for four years so I’m going to enjoy every moment and put on a show for everybody around the world,” he told Reuters in an interview.

“The Olympic Games is going to be a massive thing for me and I’m really looking forward to it. It is going to be bigger for me than for most people because there are a lot of Jamaican people living in London. I know they will be going crazy so I have to put on a show.”

Over one million people applied for tickets to watch the men’s 100m final in the Olympic Stadium on Aug 5.

Bolt is also the favourite to win the 200m final on Aug 9 and hopes to be a key part of Jamaica’s team in the 4x100m relay final on Aug 11 – a title he also won four years ago.

Expectations will be high with fans seeing if Bolt can break his own world records in London having run the 100m in 9.58 at the 2009 Berlin World Championships.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), recently told Reuters he believed Bolt could run it in 9.4.

“That’s nice to hear but, for me, when it comes to records, anything is possible,” Bolt said.

“I go out and train every day, work hard in every session, stay focused and do my best. Nobody knows what will happen.

“My coach (Glen Mills) is always giving me things to work on so I improve in everything that I do and that makes me get better every day. Every Monday he will give me something else to focus on. I am lucky because I have the best coach around.

“Hopefully that will bring good things this summer and I can put on a show. People don’t always realise it, but I am training very seriously and very hard because I want to be a legend.”

Bolt was disqualified from the 100m final at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, for a false start as training partner Yohan Blake took gold.

Although the Jamaican’s trademark composure was rocked, he is now getting back to top form.

“For me, my confidence is all about staying in good shape. If I’m in good shape, my confidence is really high, I feel at the top of my game and I don’t really worry,” he said.

“That’s when you see me dancing and having fun. But if I’m not in my best shape, then I don’t feel so good.”