By World-Track Correspondent
KINGSTON — Usain Bolt has admitted that he is not in the same shape that propelled him to stardom at the Olympic Games, but promises that he is working hard to be ready for any possible showdown in Berlin later this month.
"I’m probably a little bit back, compared to last year," Bolt said. "I’ve got a lot of work to do, day by day, but I am ready to do it.
"I’m a little bit tired because I am not really in the best shape of my life, but I’m okay," he added.
The Olympic sprint hero was speaking after easily retaining his national sprint double at the Jamaica Championships in Kingston, running in negative wind readings at the weekend.
Bolt first ran an almost effortless world-leading 9.86seconds to win the 100m before returning the following day to win the 200m in 20.25secs, running into a -2.4 m/s wind – trotting the last 60m.
In the meantime, American Tyson Gay, who blasted to a wind-aided (+3.4m/s) 9.75seconds at the U.S. Championships last week, believes he is ready to challenge the Bolt’s 9.69secs world record set last in Beijing.
The Jamaican, however, believes it is going be "very hard" to break the mark.
Meanwhile, former world record holder Asafa Powell signaled his returned to form when he ran 9.97secs to finish behind Bolt at the Jamaica trials.
Powell, still bothered by the ankle injury he picked up in April was running his fastest time of the season.
