NEW YORK – Usain Bolt says he is still behind on his fitness, but is confident about being ready to defend his Olympic Games sprint title in Rio, later this summer.
Bolt, the six-time Olympic champion, including back-to-back sprint doubles at the 2008 and 2012 Games in Beijing and London, revealed that his early season preparation was slowed down by ankle problems, which had set him back a bit.
The world record holder over both the 100m and 200m noted, though, that things are coming together again and he was happy with his progress.
“I’m feeling OK. My coach (Glen Mills) says my fitness is not exactly where he wants it to be,” Bolt said.
“Starting out this season I had a problem with my ankles and it was a setback, but not that bad. We’re getting back on track and he’s happy with the progress I’m making.”
The 29-year-old added that his main aim is to be sharp for the championships, including the Jamaica National Championships in June.
“I have two months before trials and three and a half months before the championships,” he said.
“I’ll keep pushing myself and hopefully everything smooths out and I’ll be at my best when the Olympics comes around.”
Bolt, who has an untouched record at major championships and is 100 percent over the 200m at both the Olympics and IAAF World Championships, is hoping to become the first athlete to break the 19-seconds barrier in the event, despite saying his main focus is to do another 100m, 200m, and 4x100m, three-peat.
The Jamaican sprint icon is the record holder for the 200m with a sizzling 19.19 seconds.
“Just to defend my titles, to do the three-peat. That’s my main goal. That’s my main focus,” the sprint legend said.
“My secondary goal is to try and run sub-19. That’s something I really want and I hope that everything goes smoothly and I can get it. That would be a big step for me.”
Bolt is slated to open his season at the Cayman Islands Invitational next month.
