Bolt at the double? »

Bolt at the double?

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Bolt ... should he chase the double in Beijing? - File

DONALD QUARRIE, one of Jamaica's greatest sprinters, believes Usain Bolt has what it takes to attempt the 100-200 metres double at this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Bolt's coach Glen Mills, despite the athlete's world-record 100m run of 9.72 at the Reebok Grand Prix on May 31, said he is not sure his charge would take on the sprint double.

However, Quarrie, Jamaica's most successful sprinter with a gold and silver in the 200m and 100m from the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, thinks Bolt is capable of bettering his feat.

"I think he is ready for it. His times have proven that he is capable of running fast, he is capable of doing the rounds and I am sure his preparation will get him into a position where he will perform at the highest level," said Quarrie, who also won bronze in the 200m at the Moscow Games in 1980.

To decide this weekend

Quarrie

Mills said Bolt's pre-season preparation did not include the sprint double at the Olympics, but has given the athlete until this weekend's National Senior Championships to decide.

Asked what kind of preparation Bolt would need at this stage, Quarrie, the 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games sprint double winner, said: "I don't know what kind of preparation he would need. "Mentally, if Usain is ready to double, he will double. If he gets the support, which I am sure he will, because it's a mutual decision between the coach and the athlete, he will be successful," said Quarrie.Bolt had little doubt in his mind about the double after he broke the 100m world record in New York.On his return to the island on June 1, he told journalists: "I will definitely be going for the double."I broke the record, so I guess that's made the decision easier," continued Bolt, who lowered the 9.74 mark previously held by fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell.

Not sure

He added: "I am now the fastest man in the world, so I have to run it. You just tell yourself that you have to do it."

A day later, he was not as sure."The decision for me to double rests with my coach. He will decide if I double," the World Junior and World Youth 200m record holder said.According to Quarrie, the Olympics will be the ultimate test.

"Running four times (in the 100m) and coming back to run four more rounds is the true test," explained Quarrie, himself a former co-world 100m record holder at 9.9."Physically, most athletes are capable of doing it, but it's the concentration in and out, making sure that you are alert, while having no doubt about what you are doing," continued Quarrie, who became the first male athlete to earn six gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, adding the 100m crown in 1978, along with the 4x100m gold in 1970.

As for Bolt, Quarrie said: "Usain is young, he has no fear and if he takes on the challenge of running the double, I'm sure he will run at the highest level that he is capable of."

On Bolt's chances of winning the sprint double, Quarrie, who has a personal best of 19.86 for 200m, said: "He has as good a chance of winning as anyone else when that final gun goes off. That's how it goes in the Olympics."

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