RALEIGH, North Carolina - World 100 metres record holder Usain Bolt will rely on the advice of his coach before deciding whether to attempt a sprint double at the Beijing Olympics.
In this May 31, 2008 file photo, Jamaica's Usain Bolt, center, breaks the tape with a world record time of 9.72 seconds in the men's 100 meter sprint at the Reebok Grand Prix athletic meet at Icahn Stadium in New York. Trying to nail down Usain Bolt on whether he'll run the 100 meters in the Olympics could be as hard as catching him if he does. A few days after the euphoria of setting the world record in track's iconic event, the Jamaican backed off earlier guarantees that he'll run in 100 in Beijing in August. [Agencies]
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Bolt, who broke fellow-Jamaican Asafa Powell's world 100 record in New York last Saturday, told a teleconference on Tuesday that he would definitely run the 200 in Beijing.
"I prefer the 200," Bolt said. "I have been dedicating my whole life really to the 200 and I would really like to get a gold medal in the 200."
He said his coach Glen Mills would have the final say on a 100-200 double.
"It sounds like I may be doubling, but we are not sure yet...(I will run) the 200 for sure," said Bolt. "This has been my fourth year with my coach and he has made nothing but good decisions.
"If he decides I should do only the 200, I am fine with that because I am sure he has his reasons and they would be good reasons."
Bolt said a decision would be made after the Jamaican Olympic trials from June 27-29, where he will meet Powell in the 100.
"I'm not going there to race Asafa, I'm going there to make the team," Bolt said. "Maybe on another day, at another track meet if we meet, that would be a showdown, but I don't think it (the trials) will be a big deal for me. I just want to make the team."
Bolt hinted that he could run in the London grand prix on July 25-26, where Powell and American world champion Tyson Gay are already scheduled to race in the 100, but added that nothing was yet decided.
At a time when all world records are suspect after a series of doping suspensions, especially in the sprints, Bolt said doubters should not be surprised at his improvement from a 10.03 sprinter to his world 100 record of 9.72.
"It doesn't really matter to me what other people want to do, as long as I stay clean and do my best," he said. "I just try to lead by example."
"I've being doing tremendous things since I was young," he said. "So this is no surprise...it's just me getting back on top."
