Fast & furious
ATHLETICS USAIN WARNING Bolt tells dopers: Stop or sport will die as he prepares for his final race Potter races back to fitness at the double
BETH POTTER is fighting fit for the world championships – despite a hip problem that threatened to run her off-track.
The Olympic finalist has made the temporary switch back from triathlon after winning the British 10,000 metres title to earn herself a spot on the bill in London on Saturday. But the Scot admits it has been a careful stretch into the showpiece with work on the bike and the swim a boon rather than a distraction.
Potter said: “It’s not that I feel less pressure because running isn’t my focus – it definitely is. But I did make sure I’d a six-week block of no USAIN BOLT last night took aim at the drugs cheats plaguing athletics and blasted: Stop doping or the sport will die.
The world’s fastest man arrived in London without the slightest doubt his farewell appearance at the world championships will add a final golden layer to his legend.
He said: “Unbeatable and unstoppable. That will be the headline after the 100 metres. Usain Bolt has retired unbeatable over that event.
“What if I lose? We won’t have that problem, don’t worry about it.” It was exactly the soundbite his sponsors had banked on when they invited the world’s media in to watch the Bolt ‘show’.
But the 30-year-old had matters of greater substance on his mind as he prepared to end his reign as the saviour of a sport largely discredited by scandal.
Behind the smiles was a serious side to the serial champion, brought out by questions on Russia’s continued ban for state-sponsored doping and the death of his friend, British Olympic high jumper Germaine Mason.
He said: “You can’t be happy about doping at all. I said a racing and just training where I could put my head down.
“Cycling and swimming have been there to fall back on, for the days when I’ve not been able to run. But I’m getting the work done that allows me to feel confident.”
After last month’s maiden triathlon win in Cardiff, Potter couple of years ago it had to get really bad, where there’s nowhere else to go but up.
“I think it hit rock bottom with the Russia scandal. I don’t think it gets any worse than that. But athletes must understand if they don’t stop what they’re doing the sport will die.”
Death visited Bolt’s world in April when Mason, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist, perished in a late-night motorbike accident in Jamaica.
Bolt was one of the first on the scene and, according to a police spokeswoman, arrived “very, very emotional”.
Four months on and the pain is still raw. “It was a rough time,” Bolt said. “I have never had someone who passed away so close to me. It set me back a little bit and I didn’t train for three weeks.”
Finally his close circle of friends interrupted his grieving and told him he owed it to Mason to return to training.
“Germaine was looking forward to coming to your last race,” they told him.
So here he is, back in Britain vowing to complete his golden haul in honour of his departed friend and the family he left behind.
He said. “I have been here many times and I know I am ready. It is go time.”
What if I lose? Don’t worry, we won’t have that problem USAIN BOLT
is keeping her options open before deciding to opt for a single path or double up.
She said: “I want to get to the Commonwealth Games. On the track I already have the time and want to go quicker in London. With triathlon, I’ll be going for qualification the week after the champs.”