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Time for thunder Bolt in Zurich
The presence of Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt has guaranteed that the fifth of the six-leg Golden League on Friday will be a sell-out after his treble world gold medal haul.
The presence of Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt has guaranteed that the fifth of the six-leg Golden League on Friday will be a sell-out after his treble world gold medal haul.
The Letzigrund Stadium has long sold out its 26,000 tickets, largely based around an expectant crowd who will be treated to the stars of the recently-concluded World Athletic Championships in Berlin. Bolt, who set new world records in the 100 and 200m (9.58 and 19.19 seconds), will not however be up against American Tyson Gay, who claimed silver in the worlds 100m but did not compete further after aggrevating a groin injury.
Despite his warning that he was not hunting a new world record after his blistering 100m run in Berlin, nothing can be taken for granted with Bolt up against compatriot Asafa Powell, Americans Darvis Patton and Michael Rodgers, and the Trinidad and Tobago duo of Richard Thompson and Marc Burns.
Bolt aside, there will be a host of world winners on show, not least Kenenisa Bekele, who emulated his Olympic double with a world double in the 5000-10,000m.
The fact that the Zurich meeting falls so soon after Berlin is a bonus for both athletes and organisers hoping to showcase a world record time, and Bekele was in buoyant mood.
“I’m in good shape. If the weather remains okay I want to make a good time in Zurich. After I changed plans in Berlin and doubled at the World Championships, the world record will be difficult,” said Bekele.
