Bolt: ‘I can break 100m world record’

(CNN) — Jamaican sprint star Usian Bolt has told CNN he can set a new 100 meter world record at the London 2012 Olympic Games — and could run as fast as 9.4 seconds.
Bolt took the 100m gold medal at Beijing 2008 in a world-record time of 9.69 seconds, before bettering that mark one year later with a stunning 9.58-second run at the World Championships in Berlin.
The 25-year-old, who is also a world and Olympic champion over 200m, is confident he can become the first man to smash the 9.4-second barrier in the British capital later this year.
« After my trials leading up to the Olympics, then it depends on where my fitness is, » said the 25-year-old, who also holds the 200m world record. « If everything goes well, I can determine, how fast I think I can go.
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« Everybody has been talking about this 9.4 all season. If it’s possible, I’ll be the one to run 9.4 seconds. »
Bolt was talking to CNN Olympic contributor Linford Christie, a 100m gold medalist at the Barcelona Games in 1992, after recording a time of 9.76 seconds in Rome on Thursday — the fastest 100m run of the year.
The Kingston native’s electric performances and exuberant personality have made him a global celebrity, with his « lightning bolt » pose now recognized all over the world.
« I think it was God sent, » said Bolt when asked about the iconic stance. « But it was slightly originated from an archery pose.
« I just copied it and made it my own and it worked. It’s catchy and I’m like the Michael Jordan of track and field really! »
Bolt’s charisma on the starting blocks sets him apart from previous generations of sprinters, who would take a far more serious approach to race preparations.
He revealed how an encounter with U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin, who served a four-year doping ban between 2006 and 2010, influenced his approach to racing.
« For me it never happened until Justin Gatlin, » he said. « I ran once with him in Zagreb, he did something which was really funny to me.
« We were walking back and forward and he actually spat across my lane. And when he did it, I knew he was trying to intimidate me and I found it really funny.
« Today it doesn’t really bother me. I just go there, enjoy myself and relax. It’s just one of those things where over the years the game has changed. »
olt suffered a setback at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, when a false start in the 100m final allowed his compatriot Yohan Blake to claim the gold medal.
In London, Bolt will once again face competition from Blake as well as long-time rival Tyson Gay of the United States — a 100m world champion in 2007.
Despite fierce competition, Bolt insists he will be focused on his own race if he reaches the London 2012 final — set to take place on August 5.
« I can’t really say who’s going to be my main rival but for me the main thing is the seven guys in the lanes beside me.
« You never know what can happen on the day so I’m really focused and I’m not really worried about one thing or one person. »
Christie believes Bolt can be challenged at the forthcoming Games, but his rivals with have to be confident if they are to capture his crown.
« There’s always a challenge, » the Briton told CNN. « It’s whether they believe enough to challenge him. Does a challenge mean beating him? That’s tough. »
When asked about the biggest threats to Bolt’s dominance, Christie highlighted the American duo of Gay and Gatlin as the men most likely to mount a serious challenge.
« We don’t know what Justin Gatlin is capable of, Tyson Gay hasn’t competed yet. We also need to wait until after the Jamaican trials. »
Christie said the impact Bolt has had on athletics is similar to that of American legend Michael Jordan, a world and Olympic champion over 200m and 400m, while also comparing him to other sporting icons.
« Not meaning it in a horrible way, but he’s one of the freaks in our sport. Michael Johnson came along and everybody thought ‘wow.’
« Muhammad Ali was a freak in his sport, now we’ve got Bolt. Every so many years, someone like that comes along. Pele, Maradona, it’s one of those things. »