Bolt eyes historic ‘triple hat-trick’
USAIN Bolt being Usain Bolt, no one was expecting him to announce his presence in Rio de Janeiro with anything other than a specially convened press conference featuring 15 samba dancing women, with barely three sequins to share between them.
This is Brazil. This is how they do things.
Their president might have been impeached. Their mosquitoes might shrink the heads of unborn babies.
So what? They’re sexy and they know it.
Bolt is eyeing a historic “triple triple” as the athletics competition gets under way at the Rio Olympics in the absence of a Russian team and with the showcase sport going through a major identity crisis.
Some have argued that the Jamaican supersprinter has all but single-handedly come to the rescue of the battered sport with his personality, fast times and unrivalled medal collection.
Bolt will face off against American rival Justin Gatlin in the 100m and LaShawn Merritt in the 200m – with both Americans getting extra attention in Rio owing to their doping past.
Gatlin, meanwhile, has kept a low profile as he comes to Rio as the fatest 100m runner of the season and finally wants to beat the mighty Bolt, who has not lost a global event race on the track in almost a decade – collecting six Olympic golds and 11 world titles in the process.
Gatlin was also the season leader at last year’s worlds, only to be pipped by Bolt by one hundredth in the 100m and a far bigger margin in the 200m in a duel dubbed “good v evil”.
Bolt, who says he has fully recovered from a hamstring problem, has largely kept out of the doping debate (which has also affected some of his Jamaican teammates) and rather caught all attention dancing with some samba girls at a media event this week.
“People should have faith because we’re on the right track,” he said.
“We have to go through a rough time before we get to the good times, so I personally feel that we’re going in the right direction. – dpa and Independent
RIO DE JANEIRO: In the history of the Olympic Games, only two South African sprinters have been able to win a medal in the 100m. In London (1908) Reggie Walker won the 100m and in Helsinki (1952) Daphne Robb-Hasenjäger finished second in the final of the women’s 100m.
However, when Akani Simbine settles down in his starting blocks in Rio this weekend, there is a strong possibility that these statistics could change.
Simbine certainly has the ability to cause an upset. The fact that he is mentioned in the IAAF preview for the Olympic 100m illustrates that he is currently recognised as one of the top sprinters in the world.
His time of 9.89sec is listed by the IAAF as the fifth best this year. Only Justin Gatlin (US) 9.80, Trayon Bromell (US) 9.84, Jimmy Vicaut (France) 9.86 and Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 9.88 have run faster times.
Bolt and Gatlin are tipped to be the main protagonists in the 100m. In spite of having to overcome injuries, both are still unbeaten. Bolt won four races and Gatlin boasts seven wins in as many races.
Should Bolt win, he would be the first athlete to win the 100m at three consecutive Olympic Games. Gatlin was the 2004 Olympic champion.
According to Werner Prinsloo, who coaches Simbine, his charge is not talking much about what may or may not happen from tomorrow onwards.
“Judging by the way he has been training and his general demeanour, I can’t help getting the impression that Akani is quietly confident. This is a good sign because it shows that he believes in his abilities as a sprinter.
“But there are still times when Akani seems to have a little bit of self-doubt. There is no need for it.”
Prinsloo says there won’t be any talk about medals before Simbine qualifies for the final. – ANA