The world's
fastest man can hardly wait to set foot in The Bahamas as he gears up for
double delight at the 2015 IAAF World Relays.
Usain Bolt, who
was christened with his 'Lightning Bolt' nickname by the Bahamians during the
2002 Carifta Games in New Providence, where he won the Under – 18 boys 200m in
21.12 and the 400m in 47.33, will return to The Bahamas for the first time
since the 2005 Central America and Caribbean Games.
Back then Bolt
also stood atop the medal podium, after winning the 200m in 20.03.
This year
however, the targets are much greater, and the 28 year-old who, building on his
early success in the archipelago, has since established himself as the greatest
sprinter of all time with six Olympic Gold medals, eight World Championships gold
medals and three world records, is eager to prove that lightning can in fact
strike at the same place – three times!
With the IAAF World
Championships in Beijing fast approaching Bolt, who is looking to claim his
third World Championships sprint double knows very well that a good outing in
The Bahamas will go a long way in preparing him for the tasks ahead. Right, so
no Piña Coladas on the beach then.
"It's going to be
serious business for me in The Bahamas. The harder I run the better I'll get
over the races so I have to run hard to get my body used to competing and
running hard and just to get into race sharpness," Bolt said. "I need
to get into race sharpness so when I go on the circuit I'm at the best and
that's the main focus."
Bolt, who
recently ran a 20.20 seconds 200m at a meet in his home town of Kingston,
Jamaica, says he is hoping to run in the 4x100m and 4x200m relays at the May 2
– 3 relay carnival.
"I haven't
discussed it with my coach as yet but I would personally want to do the 4x100m
and 4x200m just to get runs under my belt to get some sharpness," Bolt
said.
The sprinter
says he is determined to protect his legacy as he enters his final three
seasons.
"I talk to the
coach over the years; we talk about motivation and what I need to focus on and
on what motivates me and he said one of the things that I should use is to
remember that people
don't remember what you do in the past, it’s all about the present, so I need
to focus on defending my legacy and ensure that's intact when I'm finished
running," Bolt said.
"He always
says I should make sure if I'm not going to put my all in it, I shouldn't do
it. He said from the start that if I'm not in good shape he will not go to
Beijing with me so I have to make sure I'm in great shape," Bolt laughed.