DAEGU, South Korea (Sporting Alert) — Usain Bolt will start the IAAF World Championships this weekend as the overwhelming favourite to retain his 100 metres world title, but believes it won’t be easy.
The Jamaican quest to defend his title was handed a massive boost on Thursday after the world-leader Asafa Powell joined the list of high-profiled sprinters out of the event.
Powell, the quickest this season, at 9.78 seconds, withdrew from the 100m with a groin injury – joining Tyson Gay, who also pulled out because of injury as well.
American Mike Rogers and Steve Mullings of Jamaica – two other speedsters this season – will miss the championships because they failed drug tests.
This firmly paved the way for Bolt to win back-to-back gold medals, but the world record holder remain cautious.
Bolt also dismissed suggestions that without Gay and Powell to challenge him, the men’s 100m will lose some of its sting.
“There will be seven other guys beside me on that day so I’m focus,” Bolt said at a press conference.
“These guys are not coming out here to say ‘Usain is the fastest man in the world let’s give him the gold medal we’ll settle for second or third’.
“They are coming out there to win so i’m really focus and I’m ready now.”
usain bolt is the face of track and field and what a great ambassador to have, easy to interview, always entertaining ,the fans love him. may he reigh for a long time to come. he will win three gold medals, 100, 200 and the 4x 100 relay.