Six-time Olympic champion and eight-time World champion Usain Bolt has expressed that he does not fear a clash against 100m and 200m world leading Justin Gatlin.
The Jamaican sprinter, 28, has released a statement, saying “Afraid? When people say that, I laugh,”.
“I’ve been in the sport for years and I’ve never dodged anybody. When it matters, I’ve always showed up and shown that I’m the best,” added the world record holder for both the 100m and 200m.
Bolt has always been one for silencing the critics when it matters, and this latest claim emulating on social media of his discontent regarding a head-to-head does not appear to be any different, as he recently tweeted “Stevie Wonder mood #NoDistraction”.
Stevie Wonder mood #NoDistraction pic.twitter.com/fzr5btbogV
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) June 2, 2015
“Gatlin has been doing a lot of talking, saying a lot of things. He’s proved he’s running fast times and he’s ready. So it should be exciting going into the World Championships”.
While Bolt is yet to make a real mark on the rankings this season, having only run once in the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava, winning the 200m with 20.13 seconds.
“I’m not in the best of shape and I’m not going to put myself out there if I know I’m just coming back. When I get to Beijing I’ll be ready to go and that’s when the showdown will be.”
This is what Bolt’s previous times have looked like leading up to the major championships:
2013 – 100m
6 June: 9.95 (+0.8)
21 June: 9.94 (-1.2)
26 July: 9.85 (+0.2)
11 August: 9.77 (-0.3) – World Championships Final (1st place)
2013 – 200m
13 June: 19.79 (+1.7)
6 July: 19.73 (+0.2)
17 August: 19.66 (0.0) – World Championships Final (1st place)
2012 – 100m
5 May: 9.82 (+0.8)
31 May: 9.76 (-0.1)
7 June: 9.79 (+0.6)
5 August: 9.63 (+1.5) – Olympic Games Final (1st place)
2012 – 200m
30 June: 20.26 (+1.3)
1 July: 19.83 (-0.5)
9 August: 19.32 (+0.4) – Olympic Games Final (1st place)
2011 – 100m
26 May: 9.91 (+0.6)
31 May: 9.91 (-0.2)
22 July: 9.88 (+1.0)
28 August: 10.05 (-1.0) – World Championships Semi-Final
28 August: DQ – World Championships Final
2011 – 200m
9 June: 19.86 (+0.7)
8 July: 20.03 (-0.6)
29 July: 20.03 (-1.2)
3 September: 19.40 (+0.8) – World Championships Final (1st place)
2009 – 100m
27 June: 9.86 (-0.2)
17 July: 9.79 (-0.2)
16 August: 9.58 WR (+0.9) – World Championships Final (1st place)
2009 – 200m
28 June: 20.25 (-2.4)
7 July: 19.59 (-0.9)
20 August: 19.19 WR (-0.3) – World Championships Final (1st place)
2008 – 100m
3 May: 9.76 (+1.8)
31 May: 9.72 (+1.7)
28 June: 9.85 (-0.1)
22 July: 9.89 (+0.4)
16 August: 9.69 (0.0) – Olympic Games Final (1st Place)
2008 – 200m
12 June: 19.83 (+0.3)
13 July: 19.67 (-0.5)
26 July: 19.76 (-0.4)
20 August: 19.30 (-0.9) – Olympic Games Final (1st place)
