Former world record holder Asafa Powell says once he gets ahead in a race, no one else can beat him.
The Jamaican Powell is among the super trio that are favored to win the 100m title at the Bird's Nest alongside compatriot and current world record holder Usain Bolt and American reigning world champion Tyson Gay. Bolt broke Powell's previous record by 9.72 sec and Gay also ran a wind-aided sub-record time of 9.64 sec in the US Olympic trials in June.
"A lot of people are saying Usain and Tyson are very strong finishers, but if I get out in front of them, no matter how they are finishing, they won't be even close to me," Powell told reporters.
Asafa Powell answers questions at a press conference on Tuesday in Beijing August 12 2008. [China Daily] |
Powell has been in Beijing for two weeks and he said he is ready for their showdown on Friday.
"I did some great things in practice the past couple of weeks," Powell said. "This is the first time I've seen my coach so excited. So all I have to do is go there and just be like I was in the last two races and I do it."
Although Powell lost his record to Bolt, who set the new mark at a meet in June, he said he did not care too much about winning back the record in his race for an Olympic gold medal.
"It's not necessarily to get a new world record (in Beijing)," Powell told reporters. "I have done that (setting a world record) five times and those just happened accidentally. It just comes naturally."
Powell has not won a major international title and is known for his "choker" image in big moments. At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, he finished third in race won by Gay. He placed fourth at the Athens Games.
"I was not relaxed in Osaka and I did not run like I was supposed to," he explained.
Things have recently been looking good for Powell, who beat Bolt by one-hundredth of a second in their final pre-Olympics meeting in Stockholm, then clocked 9.82 sec, his season best, to win the Monaco Grand Prix.
But Powell shrugged off the rivalry, saying he is just trying to stay focused and will try not to beat himself.
"I am just running my race," he said. "I would be the winner if I could run like I am supposed to."