Bolt wants four golds
Usain Bolt is targeting an unprecedented four gold medals on the track at the London Olympics.
Last Updated: 14/11/11 4:43pm
Usain Bolt is targeting an unprecedented four gold medals on the track at next summer's London Olympics, adding the 4x400m relay to his usual schedule of three sprint events.
The Olympic champion in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at the 2008 Beijing Games said on Saturday that if he is fit and if Jamaica can challenge for gold, he wants a place on the 400m team.
"If I can help to get them a gold medal, I will want to go on that team," Bolt said.
The last male athlete to win four gold medals at the Olympics was Carl Lewis at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, but one of those was in the long-jump.
Bolt said he has already started his Olympic preparations at "high intensity," fully fit after ending the season with a slight Achilles tendon tweak. Last year, back problems saw him miss part the season.
Running start
Even though Bolt's official personal best in the 400m is an unimpressive 45.28 seconds, his manager Ricky Simms said he had run a 43-split with a running start in a relay in a minor Jamaica meet two years ago. The individual world record stands at 43.18.
When asked if he wanted to run in the 4x400, Bolt said: "I've expressed that to my coach. If I am fit and I think I can do it.
"I definitely would want to try because if I do as well as in Berlin, the 4x4 would top it off and even make it a little bit much better.
"I will probably be in good shape and I know the guys are really stepping up the 400 level in Jamaica.".
The Olympic schedule looks conducive to an attempt on four golds, since Bolt would only have to run the finals in the relays. After the 100m on August 5, he would not have another final until the last three days of the track schedule from August 9-11.
Award
Bolt was named the IAAF's male athlete of the year on Saturday despite his disqualification from the 100 metres final at the World Championships.
The 25-year-old false-started at the marquee event in Daegu but bounced back to take gold in the 200m and 4x100m relay.
"This season was a really trying season for me, I really had to work hard and stand up my game," said Bolt, who was also named athlete of the year in 2008 and 2009.
"There were some close races this season, I really had to push myself. So this (award) really means a whole lot to me, because I really came out there hard this year, and all the hard work I put in paid off."
Sally Pearson of Australia was given the women's award after winning 10 of 11 races in the 100m hurdles, including taking gold in Daegu.