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Bolt not certain of a double bid

BEIJING: Jamaica’s World 100m record holder Usain Bolt touched down in China on Tuesday apparently unaware that he will be going for an Olympic sprint double.

Bolt’s coach Glen Mills told Reuters on Sunday the Jamaican would definitely run both his preferred 200 metres and the distance he covered in 9.72 seconds in May.

Bolt, however, seemed less certain when asked about it at a media conference on Tuesday.

“I still have to decide,” he said.

When it was pointed out that Mills had already said he would run both, he said: “Well, it seems like I’m doubling then.

“I thought I was 80 per cent sure I would be doubling, now I’m 100 per cent.”

It would have been hard for Bolt, World championship silver medallist over 200m, to turn down the chance to become the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win both sprints. “Yes, I’m good at the 100,” he said. “But the 200 is closer to my heart and the 100 is a factor of me not wanting to do the 400 metres really,” added the 1.96m 21-year-old who looks ideally built for the one-lap race.

“The training for the 400 is too hard. I’m not lazy - though I used to be.”

Mills has not always agreed with that assessment but Bolt said the pair had a great relationship.

Describing Mills as like a “second father”, Bolt said the 100 metres mystery was the first “miscommunication” he had had with him.

His claim of ignorance, however, began to look a little thin when he was presented with a customised pair of golden Puma spikes inscribed “Beijing 100m”.

The 21-year-old Bolt is also seeking to become the Caribbean’s first 100m champion since Trinidad’s Hasley Crawford in 1976. — Agencies

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