Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Bolt says he'll defend sprint titles in Rio

London Olympics champion Usain Bolt plays a one on one basketball game with Matthew Blackwell, 7, during a visit to the SkyCity Breakers at their training facility in Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, Monday, Oct 8, 2012. The legendary Jamaican sprinter is making a short visit to New Zealand after holidaying in Australia. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Dean Purcell) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT

London Olympics champion Usain Bolt plays a one on one basketball game with Matthew Blackwell, 7, during a visit to the SkyCity Breakers at their training facility in Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, Monday, Oct 8, 2012. The legendary Jamaican sprinter is making a short visit to New Zealand after holidaying in Australia. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Dean Purcell) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT

London Olympics champion Usain Bolt does a traditional challenge dance during the Breakers' basketball team event at their training facility at Mairangi Bay in Auckland, New Zealand, Monday, Oct 8, 2012. The legendary Jamaican sprinter is making a short visit to New Zealand after holidaying in Australia. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Dean Purcell) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT

London Olympics champion Usain Bolt does a traditional challenge dance during the Breakers' basketball team event at their training facility at Mairangi Bay in Auckland, New Zealand, Monday, Oct 8, 2012. The legendary Jamaican sprinter is making a short visit to New Zealand after holidaying in Australia. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Dean Purcell) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT

(AP) ? Usain Bolt will aim for a three-peat of Olympic sprint titles in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, rather than trying out a new event.

After Bolt became the first man to successfully defend both sprint titles at the London Olympics, he was coy about his prospects of competing in Rio, and there was speculation he could switch to the long jump or 400 for a new challenge.

But during a promotional visit to New Zealand on Monday, the self-declared "living legend" said his plan for 2016 "is all about just going and defending my titles."

"I don't want to try any different events at Rio, because at Rio I will just defend my titles to show the world that there is a possibility that I can do it again," Bolt said at a news conference. "The three-peat. That's the focus ? there's not going to be any different event."

Bolt won the 100 and 200 and helped Jamaica win the 4x100-meter relays at Beijing and London.

The 26-year-old Bolt was under intense pressure from Yohan Blake heading into the London Olympics after losing to his training partner at the Jamaican trials. But he vowed to deliver his best when it counted most and showed with his commanding runs in London just how far ahead of the competition he can be when he's in peak form.

Bolt has the world record in the 100 and 200 and wants to go even faster. He'll return to training later this month and turn his attention immediately to the world championships next year in Moscow.

"I continue to work hard, continue staying focused and pushing myself, so for me that's the focus right now," he said. "I don't know how fast I can go, but I definitely try to go faster each year. I enjoy being challenged all the time."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-10-08-OLY-ATH-Bolt-Rio/id-22846d7978034ff1847d468c19dfa499

sarah burke death etta james funeral erin brockovich dodgeball 2012 pro bowl postsecret ufc on fox 2

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.