Marks, set BOLT - Gold rush begins in Daegu

Daegu, South Korea: Track and field's posterboy, Usain Bolt, will start his bid to become only the third man in history to win consecutive 100m world titles early this morning when he faces the starter for the first time at the 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics here.

Only Americans Carl Lewis (1983, 1987, 1991) and Maurice Greene (1997, 1999, 2001) can stake that claim at the moment.

Bolt, who raced to a world record 9.58 seconds in Berlin two years ago, has made it clear that he has every intention of returning to Jamaica with the gold medal around his neck, but he will have to first navigate this morning's opening round, which starts at 7:45.

"I am focused, I am ready, and I am going to get it done," said Bolt ahead of his contest.

The powerful Jamaican, this season, has looked a shadow of the man that conquered the world, first in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics where he won the 100m and 200m in record time, and then in Berlin, where he repeated that feat.

main objective

However, Bolt, now 25, following his birthday a week ago, is hardly bothered by his form leading up to the championships, pointing out that his main objective here is to successfully defend his titles.

"To me, I think that at championships I am much more focused even if I am not doing too well in training and messing up, but when it comes to a major championship, I have a different focus because I really want it," Bolt said.

Six men have gone faster than Bolt this year, with the defending champion only managing a time of 9.88 seconds, which he achieved in Monaco late last month.

However, two of those men, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay, have withdrawn from the event for fitness reasons, while two more - Steve Mullings and Mike Rodgers - are currently embroiled in doping allegations.

The absentees have certainly made for an easier assignment for Bolt, but with his compatriots Yohan Blake, Nesta Carter, and Michael Frater all looking to upstage their more celebrated countryman, the former William Knibb student has made it clear that he will not be taking anybody for granted.

The men's 100m final is set for tomorrow at 6:45 a.m.