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29 March 2024

Bolt makes triumphant start to Olympic season

Usain Bolt currently holds the 100m record with 9.58sec. (FILE)

Published
By AFP

Double sprint world record-holder Usain Bolt made a triumphant start to his 2012 season under rainy conditions on Saturday, joking the weather would prepare him for the 2012 London Olympics.

At the UTech Classic in Kingston, Bolt anchored the Racers 4x100 relay to victory in a season's world-best 37.82 seconds, defeating an MVP club relay with Asafa Powell and Britain's Dwayne Chambers that ran in 38.27 seconds.

"I am always a bit nervous before my first race but I got through it OK and that's good," Bolt said. "I'm always wondering if I'm still fast, even if I'm doing well in training, so it is always good to come out here and run."

Bolt's relay teammates were reigning world 100-metre champion Yohan Blake, Mario Forsythe and Kimmari Roach.

Bolt said he wanted to run the 200 metres on Friday but poor weather forced him not to compete.

Saying the rain did not affect his performance, Bolt said he knows he might face similar weather during pre-Olympic events in Europe this season.

"This is what we are accustomed to in Europe and I went out there and executed," Bolt said.

Bolt brushed off health worries, saying he was fit "though not as smooth as I want" and downplayed anxiety over the late start to the season, saying it was coach Glen Mills decision about when he would run.

"It's all about the coach,' Bolt said. "He decides when and where I run. It's always up to him."