‘200m record not likely to be broken’
MONACO:The world’s fastest man is slowing down.
Usain Bolt again said he doesn’t plan to run the 200 meters in his final season, realizing that his world record of 19.19 seconds is now likely beyond him. Speaking Friday in Monaco before picking up the IAAF’s ‘Male Athlete of the Year’ award for a sixth time, the 30-year-old Bolt said he thought he could dip under the 19-second barrier at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
But coming off the bend in the final, he felt his legs didn’t have a record-beating performance in them. “After last season, I kind of figured out that no matter how hard I work at this point, it probably is going to be hard to get the 200-meter world record,” Bolt said.
“And it’s a lot more work and for me, coming to the end of my career, I’m not trying to do too much work.” He also didn’t sound optimistic about breaking his 100-meter record of 9.58, either. “If I can go through my season, which I doubt without any injuries, then anything is possible,” he said.
Bolt ruled out a return for the 2020 Tokyo Games. The ninetime Olympic champion said his coach has told him,”Do not retire and come back to the sport, don’t ever do that. So you have got to make sure you are sure.”
“Not to brag or anything, but a lot of people at 30 haven’t accomplished what I’ve accomplished, so, for me, I think I’ve done all I wanted to,” Bolt said. He made it clear that his last season would be more of a farewell tour than a final drive for more records. He’s targeting a few races in his favorite places: he mentioned Ostrava, Lausanne and Paris.
“This season is pretty much mainly for the fans,” Bolt said. “A lot of people always wanted to see me compete and haven’t had the chance.” There are some things he is certain he won’t be doing: He ruled out playing American football, saying he doesn’t want to get hit. He also ruled out switching to bobsled, like American hurdler Lolo Jones, saying “anybody who knows me knows I don’t do well with cold.”