KINGSTON: World and Olympic triple gold medallist Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, says this season is the best time to try and beat him.Bolt, who owns the 100-metre world record of 9.58 seconds and 200m world record of 19.19 seconds, said he plans to take it easy this season, making it the top opportunity for his rivals.
“I think this season – maybe I shouldn’t be saying it – but it’s the best chance anyone has to beat me,” Bolt said. “This season is kind of an easy season and I won’t be trying to overdo myself. I’m trying to get the most rest possible.”
This is a year with no world outdoor or Olympic titles at stake, although Bolt’s two main rivals, fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay, have both said they are targeting Bolt’s record.
“We are not trying to do too many races and when we do, we’ll be trying to get easy races, not hard races,” Bolt said.
“This is an off-season for me and I am trying to just stay on top, but the work I did last season is not there this season.” Gay, in a recent interview said, regardless of what Bolt says, he will have to run as fast as he had to stay unbeaten.
Bolt says just because he is taking it easy does not mean he will not be trying hard to win every race.
“I can be beaten, but I am going to work really hard not to,” added Bolt, who always maintained that this year he would not be trying to break any records. — AFP