From Jamaica Observer

Double sprint world record holder Usain Bolt is excited to compete on local soil for the first time in over a year.

The world’s fastest man is set to make his seasonal bow at the Cayman Invitational meet on May 14, but noted that the highlight will be the inaugural staging of the Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium scheduled for June 11.

Bolt, who has not competed since winning the world title in Beijing last year, said that he was anticipating a high-quality event at the National Stadium next month. He urged fans to come out and support the meet, which is aimed at garnering funds to meet the club’s objective of continuing the development process.

Bolt is expected to be joined by compatriots Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, Warren Weir, Hansle Parchment and world 100 metres hurdles champion Danielle Williams.

Among the overseas stars who have been confirmed to participate at the meet are reigning 400 metres world champion Wayde van Niekerk, along with Americans Lashawn Merritt and Jason Richardson and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly Ann Baptise.

“I am really proud of the effort being made to put on a meet, the first actual track club in Jamaica to do that. I am very proud of my coach (Glen Mills) for making this move and I know it is going to be a great meet,” Bolt told journalists at the club’s silent auction at the Jamaica Pegasus on Sunday.

“We want the support and we welcome it. So far I know that there will be a lot of high calibre athletes coming to put on a good event [and] I will be there. I haven’t run in Jamaica for a couple years now, so I am looking forward to it and people should definitely come out and support because it will be good,” he added.

The triple World and Olympic gold medallist, though satisfied with his early season preparation, said he is making no predictions or entertaining any expectations of fast times just yet.

“I am in good knick… I have been training hard and my time trials are going well and my coach is happy. So everything is going great so far and I am just looking forward to my first meet in two weeks in Cayman.

“It is all about going there and executing right now and then everything should be fine from there. I am just going to take my time and work my way up and try to make sure everything is on point, try to stay injury free and just put in the work, so just watch my progress through the year pretty much,” he explained.

Decorated with accolades such as being the first man at the modern Olympic Games to win six gold medals in sprinting, the 11-time World champion believes this year will be one of the most important of his career.

The 29-year-old has confirmed that Rio will be his last hurrah at the Olympic Games, before possibly hanging up his spikes after next year’s World Championships.

However, Bolt declared that he feels no pressure and is aiming to deliver in emphatic fashion as is customary.

“I think this (year) is one of the biggest, but I try to make sure that I am always ready because I know people always look forward for me to do great things. It is really a big deal, so I am just trying to refocus and get my mind right and just go out there and execute to win as always.

“I never worry about losing, as soon as you start worrying about that then it causes problems, so I just worry about getting fit and being ready. I know that I am in good shape and I have nothing to worry about,” he pointed out.

When quizzed about a possibility of a comeback after retirement, which is frequent among many sports personalities, Bolt replied: “Definitely not”.

“I won’t be one of those athletes after you dominate for years and then at the last minute you decide to come back and you start losing, it doesn’t look good. So I won’t be one of those athletes…..when I hang up my spikes, that is it,” he stated.

— S Cowan

For more on this story go to: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Bolt-excited-to-compete-at-Racers-Grand-Prix_59674