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July 17, 2009

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Bolt pledges 'something special'

Usain Bolt promised on Wednesday to offer "something special" to the crowd at the Stade de France today during the Paris stage of the Golden League.

"I'm here to compete and do my best. If the weather is good like today, which is wonderful, it should be something special", the triple Olympic gold medalist told a press conference.

Asked it that "something special" could be to beat his own world record of 9.69 seconds in the 100 meters, he answered:

"I don't want to talk about a time but I can run fast all the time. I think I'm in good shape. Sometimes it works on the track, sometimes it doesn't. It depends on the feeling and the track, you never know."

Bolt will run today without his two main rivals American Tyson Gay, who set the fastest time this year of 9.77 seconds last Friday, and fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell but stated that it could be an asset.

"You really run better when there is less competition. It's much easier when your mind is free," he said.

"Anyway, I don't fear any athletes no matter what time they are running. I'm always confident in myself because I know I train hard," he added.

The 22-year-old Jamaican, who also set world records in winning the 200 and 4x100 relay at the Beijing Olympics last year, said the Paris meeting was an important stage in his preparation for the Berlin world championships next month.

"After Paris, I shall only run one more 100 meters in London and then it will be hard work because the world championships are very important," he said. "I got silver last time and I'm working to get the gold this year. If I follow up a great year by winning the world championships I'll show people that Beijing was not a one-time thing."



 

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