For final worlds, Bolt bold as ever
LONDON — An encore for Usain Bolt? Unthinkable. A loss in his going-away party? Impossible.
Track’s fastest man and greatest entertainer made both those points clear yesterday leading to his final world championships this week. It was an engaging hour filled with reminisces, chats about his plans and thoughts about where his troubled and soon-tobe-starless sport might be headed.
Sporting the goatee he wears during world championships, but not the Olympics, the superstar who went 9-for-9 at the Summer Games, shattering records while dancing and smiling his way through the journey, dispensed any notion he might come back.
“For me, the next championships should be fun because now it’s time to watch and see who can hold their nerves,” said Bolt, the 11time world champion, who turns 31 on Aug. 21.
As for the possibility he’d change his mind should he lose in Saturday night’s 100-meter final: “It’s not going to happen, so we won’t have that problem. Don’t worry.”
Bolt said he’s looking forward to a life of motivational speaking, occasional soccer games with friends and maybe dipping his toe into action movies to keep the adrenaline flowing.
His most telling comments — or non-comments — came when he was asked who might fill his shoes after he leaves.
“I’m not going down that road,” Bolt said. “The last guy I said was going to be great disrespected me.”
It was almost certainly a reference to Andre De Grasse, the Canadian upand-comer who brazenly pushed Bolt last year in the Olympic 200 meter semifinals. If there’s going to be drama in Saturday’s 100 final, De Grasse is the best bet to provide it.
But Bolt doesn’t see that as a problem.
“You guys know if I show up at a championship, you know I’m fully confident and ready to go,” he said.