Bolt ready for key test ahead of Olympics

London: Usain Bolt insists he is ready for his first 200 metres of the season in the Anniversary Games on Friday as the star sprinter tests his fitness ahead of the Rio Olympics.

Bolt, a six-time Olympic champion, faces a key stage of his fitness recovery when he races for the first time since pulling out of the Jamaican trials with a hamstring strain.

“I’m good, I’m feeling good, been training good now, I’m happy with where I am, Bolt told reporters in London on Thursday. “My hamstring is good, I have no issue right now. I know I’m in good shape.”

Bolt’s outing at the Olympic Stadium, the scene of his three Olympic gold medal wins at London 2012 in the 100m, 200m and sprint relay, will be his last before the Games.

The 29-year-old has set his sights on an unprecedented ‘triple triple’ of Olympic crowns in what will likely be his last Games.

I’ll definitely be there, I’m excited to go, Bolt said of the Olympics, which get underway in Brazil on August 5.

Despite doubters questioning his fitness, Bolt points to his triumph at last year’s World Championships in Beijing when he trailed Justin Gatlin in the 100m and 200m world rankings, only to leave China with the complete set of gold medals.

“I’m definitely a tough competitor, Bolt said. Last year Gatlin was just not ready, it was the first time he was being chased. It was hard for him, but this year is not going to be the same, I am in much better shape, so I won’t leave it to the last second.”

(AFP)