Bolt: “Top athletes should better avoid each other in meetings’

In the run up to the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme Usain Bolt held a press conference. He wants to end the season on an ultimate high note in Brussels and then enjoy a well-deserved rest. "Yesterday I sat in my hotel room and thought:: what do I do with that race on Friday? My head is empty and my body tired. We landed in Europe on 3 July and we have been here ever since. Soon I can finally go home. First celebrate in Jamaica and then go on vacation in Australia. Enjoy doing nothing on the beach. I simply yearn for it. I might even go sunbathing ... " Usain Bolt did not really sound like the most enthusiast athlete ahead of the ultimate Diamond League meeting, the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme in Brussels. However, he regained his competitiveness. "This will be the last race of a very tiring season. I want to and will have to fire down that fast track. And those final 100 meters might perhaps my most successful season ever. After that I can enjoy the music during the Jamacain After party at the Heysel. Then I will most certainly ask my manager to crack a bottle of champagne." "What do you expect? This might be Bolt's 175th press conference of the year, in which he often got to answer the same questions and yet he is still smiling," organiser said Wilfried Meert . "You should not take him too literally. His coach Glen Mills assured me that his men are focused and ready to go. Yohan Blake is aiming high. He cherishes beautiful memories of the 200 meters in Brussels last year. But Bolt wants to conclude the season on a high note as well. You have to know that should he win tomorrow, he will claim the Golden League for the first time. That is something which even moves a legend like Usain Bolt." Bolt spoke more about the past season and the challenges for the future than about tomorrow's 100 meters. "After Yohan beat me twice at the Jamaican trials I never panicked. I consulted my coach and he assured me that things were going to be alright. I subsequently focused on the London Olympics and to win the intended gold medals there. " "I won't get out of the way of the clash with my training partner Yohan Blake. Why we no longer run against one another is something you need to ask our manager. Actually I agree. Top athletes and rivals should not compete each other more than two to three times each season. Like that you build up tension, for the sports fan but also for the athletes themselves. Which can only improve your performance. Competing in the same event at the end of the season simply does not make sense. You can no longer fire yourself up for an ultimate clash. " "I like it that Yohan gets more of the attention. He takes away pressure from me. Which is nice, because I like to be 'zen' and relaxed. All too often I'm the big star. In that respect, my life has definitely changed compared to last year. Recently I was in Paris for a photoshoot for Puma. An enthusiastic crowd had gathered in front of the hotel. Which celebrity would be staying here, I wondered. But when I left the hotel, it appeared they had been waiting for me. I'm used to be getting all of the attention anywhere near the athletics tracks. But this was a new experience. " "I can definitely get motivated again for next season. I want to aim for top performance for at least one more year. I want to find out where my limits are in the 200 meters event and set new world records there. Whether I'll include the 400 meters or the long jump, I do not know. I'll take that decision together with my team. After the season has finished and when the holidays are over, we meet and set new goals for the future. It is important to me that we work together as a team and set clear objectives. In that respect, Glen Mills is more of a mentor and a father figure to me than just my coach. " Watch the video

"C’est une piste rapide, ce ne sera pas difficile de signer un bon chrono", a confié le Jamaïcain lors d’une conférence de presse à Bruxelles. Bolt s’aligne sur 100m au stade Roi Baudouin, son compatriote et camarade d’entraînement Yohan Blake se présente lui sur 200 m. L’an dernier, Blake avait signé le second chrono de l’histoire en 19.26. "Naturellement, tout le monde se souvient encore de cette course, c’était super. Je ne trouve par ailleurs pas grave de partager l’attention avec Yohan. Ca génère moins de stress", selon Bolt.

Après ses trois médailles d’or sur 100, 200 et 4×100 m, le grand défi pour Bolt à présent est de rester motivé. "Il s’agit, en concertation avec mon coach, de se fixer de nouveaux objectifs." Le 400 m? "Certainement pas", tranche Bolt. Le saut en longueur à Rio? "Quelqu’un m’a suggéré de le tenter en 2014 lors des Jeux du Commonwealth. Je pourrais essayer, et on verra bien ce que cela donne."

Mais il est plus réaliste de voir Bolt poursuivre (tranquillement) ses épreuves de sprint. Avec, qui sait, de nouveaux records du monde. "Je vais certainement essayer sur 200 m de descendre sous mes 19.19", a promis Bolt en vue de la future saison.

Bolt mettra un terme à sa saison après le Memorial. Suivront ensuite cinq semaines de vacances avec un voyage en Australie. Son objectif pour la saison prochaine est clair: améliorer ses records du monde. Pour Bolt aussi, la préparation est un facteur très important. "Je trouve toujours le début de saison très pénible, avec de longs entraînements peu passionnants. Chaque année j’ai peur de voir avec quel schéma d’entraînement le coach va arriver! Mais c’est essentiel pour le reste de la saison."

Fan de musique, Bolt jouera les DJ lors de la Jamaican Party après le Mémorial. "J’espère amuser le public. Tous les athlètes sont invités, ils pourront clôturer leur saison par une belle fête."

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