BUT GATLIN PREDICTS HIS RIVAL MAY BE BACK

JUSTIN GATLIN is predicting the world might not be seeing the last of superstar Usain Bolt.

Gatlin takes on Bolt in the 100m at the World Championships in London a week tonight.

Bolt says that will be his last individual race and he will retire after running for Jamaica in the sprint relay.

But Gatlin is sceptical and says Bolt, 30, could take a break for a year and then come back.

“The hardest thing to determine, when you have done things over and over again, is you water down the passion you have for it,” said Gatlin, Bolt’s biggest rival to him getting his fourth 100m World gold.

“He has talked about playing football, finding who he is outside of track and field, and it is going to be his difficulty.

“But Bolt always has the opportunity of coming back. He can have a year’s rest and then say ‘you know what, I love track so much I can’t leave it too soon’. Why not do that?

Gatlin (right with Bolt) added: “Bolt has that rock star

mentality where he can travel the world, have fun, go partying in different places, then come back and say I want to take this seriously one more time.”

It is ironic Gatlin should be talking about a Bolt comeback when the athletics world turned its back on him after two bans for testing positive for drugs.

But Gatlin, now 35, and Olympic silver medallist behind Bolt at the Rio Olympics said: “I’m going into the race to enjoy it, have fun, but also focusing on the special time it is, a changing point in history. Who’s going to step up, fill that void when Bolt goes? Who is going to be the next superstar? It won’t be the Usain Bolt Show anymore.”