E-Paper
Bolt wants to shatter his 200m record by running under 19 secs
Usain Bolt has a few goals left before he retires: He wants to break his own 200-metre world record and do it by running under 19 seconds. He set the record of 19.19 seconds in 2009, and also set the 100 record of 9.58 the same year.
Usain Bolt has a few goals left before he retires: He wants to break his own 200-metre world record and do it by running under 19 seconds.
He set the record of 19.19 seconds in 2009, and also set the 100 record of 9.58 in the same year.
"That's one of my biggest goals," Bold said Friday in Rio, which will host South America's first Olympics next year. "It's actually to run under 19 seconds. I think this season it will be hard to do, but the key thing is trying to stay injury free so I can go into the Olympic season in the best shape that I can be."
The six-time Olympic gold-medal sprinter is in Rio to run an exhibition race over the weekend. Asked to rate himself, Bolt was forthright.
"When I'm in great shape, I'll tell you guys, I worry about nobody because I know that when I'm at my best - it's definitely almost impossible to beat me."
Bolt reiterated that Rio will be his last Olympics, but not his last season. He said he'll retire after the 2017 world championships in London.
"After the Olympics I'll go on for one more season," he said. "My sponsors asked me if I could continue. I'll do one more season, and then I'll hopefully hang my spikes up."
Bolt will turn 30 the day the Olympics close - August 21, 2016.
Forbes reported Bolt earned $23.2 million in 2014, almost all from sponsorships. He is No. 45 on Forbes' list of the highest earning athletes.
Bolt won three golds in Beijing in 2008, and three more in London in 2012. This will be third exhibition race in Rio, which he said is an advantage as he's getting to know the city, the people and what to expect.
"It makes it easier to transition into the Olympics next year, which I'm really getting excited about," Bolt said. "I'm just happy that I get to come here and be a part of this so early, so I'll be much more comfortable when the Olympics come around."
