Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin expected to duel for title of world’s fastest man in Rio 2016 Olympic 100m final
THEY call it a rivalry, but it’s been dominated by one man. He’s only beaten Usain Bolt once in eight tries, but Justin Gatlin says he can turn the tide in Rio.
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JUSTIN Gatlin says he’s older, wiser and clean.
He wants people to understand him but the problem for the American is he’s never going to win the PR battle given his chequered history and the fact he’s trying to take down one of the most popular sporting figures in history.
Usain Bolt’s aim in Rio is to become a legend and win three 100m gold medals at three Olympics.
It’s the classic good versus evil storyline but the 34-year-old American has grown tired of that script and is determined to enjoy his final dance on the biggest stage of all.
“Every Olympics is special, but as you become an older athlete you understand the importance of running at the Olympics,” Gatlin said.
“I’m at the end of my season, the end of my career, and I’m just having fun with it.”
Gatlin was the Olympic champion in 2004 before he was suspended for a second time for doping – a four-year ban in 2006.
His past has again been a focus in Rio and he was fingered by one of his own, American swimmer Lilly King, when she declared all athletes with a history of doping offences – and Gatlin specifically – shouldn’t be allowed to ever participate in Olympic competition.
“I don’t even know who Lilly King is,” Gatlin said.
“She does swimming, not track and field, so I’m not worried about that.”
Gatlin is running faster than ever and comes to Rio with the world’s leading time of 9.80sec. He was also the fastest qualifier out of the 100m heats, clocking 10.01sec to Bolt’s 10.07sec.
This just gives his critics even more ammunition given his age and rate of improvement since he came back from his drug suspension.
Once again after the heats he was forced to declare he was clean, citing the drug control system which he has been subject to since his return.
“I have confidence in my policies that I’m with,” Gatlin said.
“I have come back and done what I need to do. I have worked hard just like everybody else, and I get tested like everybody else, and I am back here. I believe in the system.”
He finished third behind Bolt at London 2012 and has been second at the past two world championships – the latest a heartbreaking .01sec loss in Beijing last year.
Gatlin is now trying to channel Bolt in the way he’s approaching the biggest race of his life.
“In ‘04 I was just a young guy running and having fun,” he said, “And there was no difference in any other race than the Olympics finals.
“You try to bring that same feeling back as you become an older athlete and just have fun.”
The problem for Gatlin is he’s only beaten the Jamaican superstar once in eight attempts – back at a Diamond League meet in 2013 – and he blew his best chance last year.
Bolt was banged up in Beijing after an injury-riddled preparation but he still found a way to overwhelm his rival on the line in what he later described as one of the best victories of his career.
He’s in better shape this year despite a hamstring niggle which saw him pull out of the Jamaican Olympic trials.
The heat win was a simple stroll in the park and in the lead-up the 29-year-old spoke about how he deals with being the world’s fastest man.
“The only pressure I have is the pressure I put on myself,” Bolt said.
“I don’t think about what anyone else expects of me. It’s why I am not one of those athletes who gets all quiet and serious before a race.
“I prefer to not think about it and just interact with people as normal. I like to look around me and see what’s going on, where the other guys are, what they’re doing.”
For Bolt, Rio is all about his legacy.
“I’m trying to become a legend, the first athlete to win three golds at three Olympics, so that when I retire I will be recognised not just for the great performances, but for the transformation of the sport, bringing more people to watch athletics.”
Originally published as Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin expected to duel for title of world’s fastest man in Rio 2016 Olympic 100m final
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