Sprint supremo Usain Bolt says he is taking his time in the build-up to Augusts 2015 World Championships In Athletics in Beijing and is looking forward to an explosive showdown there against American Justin Gatlin.
Bolt said he is ramping up, coming off an injury plagued season, but should be in high gear for the championships and ready to silence the confident Gatlin.
I find a lot of stuff that he says really funny because I think hes trying to get a reaction out of me, Bolt told Reuters in an interview on 11 June ahead of Saturdays Adidas Grand Prix on New Yorks Randalls Island.
For me, its whatever. Ive been through it. All the people been saying what theyre going to do: theyre going to break my records; theyre going to beat me. Ive been dealing with it for years now. So for me, its nothing. I enjoy this.
I look forward to competing when people talk... because if you dont back it up you look really stupid, said the first man to win six Olympic gold medals in sprinting and an eight-time world champion.
Gatlin, 33, has run the fastest 100m this year and been talking a big game, claiming to be the man to beat.
Bolt is running the 200m on Saturday as he is focusing on that event this season, frustrating many track fans eager to see how he would measure up in a duel against Gatlin over 100m.
The Jamaican world record holder in the 100m and 200m said he was not yet in shape for a showdown duel but looked forward to it.
Afraid? When people say that, I laugh. Ive been in the sport for years and Ive never dodged anybody. When it matters, Ive always showed up and shown that Im the best, Bolt said.
Fact is, Im not in the best of shape and Im not going to put myself out there if I know Im just coming back and I need time to get back to where I need to be. When I get to Beijing Ill be ready to go and thats when the showdown will be.
Bolt said the suspense of how the sprinters shaped up against one another could help build interest in Beijing.
People can look forward to the championship. Whats going to happen? he said. Justin is running good, Tyson [Gay] is running good, Asafa [Powell] is running good, Usain is running good.
So when we come to the championship, its going to be like an explosion.
