DAEGU, South Korea
Having already secured multiple international gold medals and world records, Jamaican sprinting king Usain Bolt is now focused on continuing in march towards legendary status in the world of athletics.
Bolt, who recorded world records on his way to winning gold medals in the 100m and 200m at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany, is hoping to cement his position among sporting Deity, and Daegu, represents an important milestone along his journey.
"Defending my titles her in Daegu is very important to me," said Bolt. "The World Championships is the first step in the door to really becoming a legend so I am really focused on going out there on the track to do my best."
But isn't he already a legend? Not so says the man from Trelawny.
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"A lot of people have said that I am a legend but I don't look at it like that but in two years (I will become one), I'm working on it," he smiled.
Championships
In two years time, Bolt, who only last week celebrated his 25th birthday, hopes that he will be heading into the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, scheduled for Moscow, Russia as the two-time Olympic and World championships 100m and 200m champion with a couple world records to go along with the shiny medals he hopes to pick up along the way. But he more than most, knows that it will not be an easy task.
"A lot of people have won championships, a lot of people have broken world records but only a few people have repeated that year in and year out especially the sprinters, because it's really hard to win and come back and win again and so for me, its really important to defend my titles and I think that it will take that amount of work to become a legend," a serious sounding Bolt pointed out.
The sprinter will however, have to navigate his way through the competition here in Daegu before he starts thinking about next year's Olympic Games in London or the Moscow World Championships for instance.
He is, however, confident that he is in the right shape to continue his championships success here, and who is going to bet against a confident Bolt?
- A.L.
