Usain Bolt with his World record clock in New York (© Victah Sailer)
This afternoon the old and new faces of the World 100m record, Jamaica’s Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt, were at the official press conference ahead of tomorrow night’s DN Galan (22), and tried to play down expectation about improving the global mark here in the Swedish capital.
The DN Galan is a Super Grand Prix status meeting within the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2008.
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Usain Bolt (JAM)
9.86 is the stadium record held by Powell, will you get it?
“Anybody who wins tomorrow will get the stadium record because if the sun’s out and the weather is good then it’s going to be a fast time.”
“This is a bit different to the Jamaican trials where we went out to qualify for the Olympics. Here we are going out as competitors. We are each going there (DN Galan) to win definitely.”
It’s a real competition with a big time waiting at the end?
“Yes, if the weather is good I’m sure the time will be good.”
“I’m not really bothered about getting beat here or anywhere else except for Beijing which is where is counts. I just want to stay injury free and focus hard on that goal.”
Who is the best sprinter in the world?
“I proved myself to be the fastest in the world with my World record, so I guess I’m the best.”
You are Asafa are good friends?
“Yes we are good friends, we hang out and talk about home and what we are going to do when we get back and talk about cars and that sort of thing.”
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Asafa Powell (JAM)
Have fast can you go?
“We are just hoping for some good weather…Tomorrow is going to be a great day, Usian and I are going to go out there to really put on a great show, and hopefully we can run some really fast times.”
Are you confident?
“Someone has to win and hopefully it will be me.”
What is your health condition like? (pulled up with cramp in groin in Rome 11 July)
“Everyone knows I have been getting a lot of injuries since the start of the year and I’m just trying to get over all that, trying to get myself back on top you know, where I’m supposed to be.”
“I’ve been working very hard and I’m in good shape to run fast but how fast I don’t know.”
“I have been doing a lot of background training to get myself into excellent form.”
What will you need to win tomorrow?
“A season’s best should be fine.”
Chris Turner for the IAAF
