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....I am one step closer to being a legend... |
Four-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt says he is edging closer to legendary status after defending his 100m title in stunning fashion on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Jamaican
won in an Olympic record time of 9.63 seconds and is already thinking
about his next target at London 2012 – the 200m.
“This gold means I am one step closer to being a legend so I’m working toward that,” he said. “That’s just one step.
“I have the 200m to go, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Bolt is a strong
favourite for gold in the 200m, an event he also won at the 2008
Olympics in Beijing. His time of 19.19secs, set at the 2009 World
Championships in Berlin, remains the world record.
When asked on BBC Radio 5
live whether he could break the 19-second barrier, Bolt smiled and
said, “Well, it’s been on my mind a couple of years now and this season,
on this track, feeling more confident in myself – we’ll see.
“I don’t want to say I can do it and then not do it. But it’s on my mind.”
The heats of the 200m begin in the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, with the final on Thursday.
Bolt was beaten by
training partner Yohan Blake in the 200m at the Jamaican trials in early
July. Blake also beat him in the 100m but was forced to settle for
silver at London 2012.
His victory came a day after swimming great Michael Phelps secured his 22nd Olympic medal – the most by any Olympian.
Bolt was quick to praise the American’s achievements and likened himself to his fellow Olympic champion.
“Phelps is a legend,”
said Bolt. “He’s really done great for himself and his country, and
we’ve set the stage for a lot more athletes to really aim high and make
our sports even better.”
Bolt said he planned to compete at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“I hope I’m in Rio,” he said. “I’m going to be 30, but I hope I’m in great shape. Blake will be 26 so it should be interesting.”
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