OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – When Usain Bolt opens his European campaign at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava on 20 May, the Jamaican sprint sensation will line-up in the 100m against American Ashton Eaton, the World and Olympic decathlon champion.
The organisers of the IAAF World Challenge meeting made the announcement on Tuesday (26).
Bolt, who is undefeated in Ostrava, will be making his eighth appearance in the Czech city and the World record holder over both the 100m and 200m says he’s looking forward to racing at one of his favourite places on the European circuit.
“I’m pleased to return to the Golden Spike meeting for the eighth time in my career,” Bolt said.
“It’s one of my favourite meets on the circuit. The organisation is always great and the fans create a fantastic atmosphere.
“It will be my first European meeting of 2016.”
The six-time Olympic champion is preparing to defend his titles at the Rio Games in Brazil later this summer where he admits to wanting to win another three-peat (100m, 200, 4x100m) in what is expected to be the last Olympics for the 29-year-old.
He holds the 100m world record at 9.58secs and 200m mark, at 19.19secs, and has the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting records for the 200m (19.83) and 300m (30.97).
Bolt is hunting his fourth win in the 100m at the meeting, having won short dash titles in his 2009, 2011 and 2012 previous appearances.
In the meantime, Eaton, who has a personal best of 10.21 seconds for the 100m PB, will just be looking to lay down a marker in what will be a rare clash between a sprint icon and world and Olympic 100m champion against a global decathlon champion.
Shawn Barber, Renaud Lavillenie, Julius Yego and Zuzana Hejnova are among the athletes who were already confirmed to compete at the meeting this season.
