Friday, July 11, 2025
spot_img

Johnson doubtful over Bolt’s four gold bid

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

LONDON: Track great Michael Johnson has placed doubt on Usain Bolt’s plans to win four gold medals at next year’s London Olympics by extending his range to include the 4×400 metres relay.

Bolt is set to defend the 100m and 200m Olympic titles he won in Beijing, where he was also a member of Jamaica’s victorious 4x100m relay team.

By adding the 4x400m relay, Bolt would have a shot at becoming the first man to win four gold medals in track and field at one Olympics since Johnson’s fellow American Carl Lewis achieved the feat at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

But Johnson, gold medallist in both the 200m and 400m at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, said the 25-year-old Bolt would struggle with the longer distance.

“You can’t train for the 400 (as well), it would be an absolute distraction and the training wouldn’t work,” Johnson told BBC Radio 5 live. “I think he could be the world-record holder at 400 metres but he’s said that he has no interest in training for it, which I can understand — it’s a difficult race to train for.

“I see no reason why he shouldn’t be able to repeat as an Olympic gold medallist in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m, but the 4x400m is going to be tough.

“Without him the Jamaican team certainly doesn’t have enough 400m runners to beat the United States. “They could beat the US possibly with him on the team if he was training for the 400m, but he can’t just step onto the track and run a 44 or a 43-second split just off 100 and 200m training.

“I don’t see that happening. I don’t see the Jamaican coaching staff putting him on the 4x400m relay unproven. That means he’s got to go out there and run some 400s during the season, in order to prove that he should be on that relay.” (Agencies)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Assam Governor assesses Karbi Anglong law and order situation

GUWAHATI, July 11: Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Friday chaired a review meeting with security agencies at Taralangso...

Sitharaman holds discussion with Meghalaya Governor on state’s issues

  Shillong, July 11: The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, paid a visit to Raj...

92 Meghalaya border villages under Vibrant Village Programme

Shillong, July 11: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced that 92 border villages in Meghalaya have...

22 Maoists, including eight females, surrender in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, July 11: In a significant development in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, 22 Maoists laid down their arms on...