I can’t stay relaxed: Usain Bolt

‘I can’t stay relaxed’

Starts are still a problem for you. Do you think it will be a hindrance at the world championship?
I have been working on my start and it is getting better day by day. I think by now I have erased all the flaws in my starts. I am in really good shape right now and I don’t see any reason to run myself out. I’m just glad I am entering the world championship without any injury.

Tyson Gay has come back strongly from an injury and is confident of toppling you here…
Tyson is a great athlete and will be a strong competitor but I never look at one individual and treat all my opponents with respect. It comes down to who holds his nerves when it matters the most.

What will it take for you to repeat your Olympics performance?
It will take lot of hard work and everything else to go well on the day. I have to be on top of my game. I can’t stay relaxed.

You are a clear favourite to win both (100m & 200m) titles at Berlin, which wasn’t the case in Beijing. Will there be an added pressure on you this time around?
I don’t feel any different from last year. I was the world record holder going into Beijing and it’s the same going in to Berlin. My rivals will be under pressure to catch me. I’ve to concentrate on job ahead.

You recently said that you can clock 9.54 seconds when the time is appropriate…
People always ask me how fast I can go and I tell them that my coach Glen Mills once said I could run 9.54 and he is normally right. And I hope to prove him right.

What things do you have to guard against if you want to win both (100m and 200m) titles?
I have to run my own race and hopefully that will be good enough to win.

Who is the bigger threat — Gay or Powell?
As I have already said I treat everyone as a threat. It depends on how good an individual is on that given day.

There is an injury threat to Gay. Do you see yourself as the main favourite in such a scenario?
It does not matter who is the favourite — the only thing that matters is who wins.

Have you set any targets for the worlds?
I would like to win all my races.

What odds will you give yourself to win both 100 and 200 at worlds?
I think I have a good chance based on my current form.