Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 8 September 2017
Bolt predicts his world records could stand for 15-20 years

By JIM ARMSTRONG isfied with getting their first
AP Sports Writer contract, going out and
KYOTO, Japan (AP) — Usain making their first team. If
Bolt is feeling no pressure they are satisfied with that,
in retirement, confident then we’re in trouble.
his best times can remain “Hopefully, a few of these
world records for decades. young guys are going to
The only sprinter to capture be hungry and want to be
the 100- and 200-meter great and if we get those
track titles at three consec- guys we will be OK but so
utive Olympics, Bolt retired far, it is not looking good.”
last month after the world The 31-year-old Bolt said he
championships in London. had good people around
He holds the world record him from his earliest suc-
of 9.58 seconds in the 100 cesses who were also there
and 19.19 in the 200 — both at the end, helping him
set in Berlin in 2009. make the most of his talent.
“I think (they’re) going to “My first two Olympics were
last a while,” Bolt said dur- easier, I was confident, I
ing a promotional event in was young, I was enjoying
Japan on Tuesday. the sport,” he said.
“I think our era with Yohan “But I think my last three
Blake, Justin Gatlin and Usain Bolt of Jamaica gestures with maiko, or an apprentice geisha, during a promotional event years were the toughest
Asafa Powell and all these in Kyoto, western Japan, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. years for me because then
guys was the best era of Associated Press I had done so much I found
athletes. If it was going to myself thinking ‘Why am I
be broken, it would have brushed off that notion. was not only the fast times maica now is if the young- still doing this? I’ve accom-
been broken in this era, so I “I have nothing to prove, that I ran but my personal- sters want it,” Bolt said. plished everything. I don’t
think I have at least 15 to 20 that’s the main reason I left ity that people really en- “Over the years, one thing really need to prove any-
more years.” track and field. After you joyed and loved. I’ve learned is you have thing else.’ But the team
Bolt’s farewell major meet do everything you want “If you want to be a star to want to be great. If you that I had around me really
didn’t go to plan in Lon- there is no reason to stick in sports and take over a don’t want to be great, it helped me to push myself
don. After a surprising third- around,” Bolt said. sport you have to let peo- won’t happen.” to set the bar so high.”
place finish in the 100 be- Bolt was the life of the party ple know who you are as a Of course, wanting to be As for the future, Bolt says
hind Americans Gatlin and every time he competed, person, not just as a track great and doing what it he is interested in playing
Christian Coleman, Bolt’s captivating fans with his athlete.” takes to make it happen soccer and possibly settling
last race ended in the an- charisma and smile. Jamaica won only one are two different things, down and getting married.
guish of an injured ham- As for the next biggest star gold medal at this year’s too. “Something I’ve always
string while anchoring Ja- in track, Bolt said he doesn’t worlds, a disappointing “I’ve noticed a lot of the wanted to do is play foot-
maica’s 4x100-meter relay see anyone at the moment haul given its success in the young athletes, as soon as ball,” said Bolt, a die-hard
team. who he expects will follow last decade. Bolt said his they get their first contract Manchester United sup-
Gatlin, often cast as the vil- in his footsteps. country’s young athletes and start making money, porter.
lain during Bolt’s long domi- “It’s hard for me to pick will have to step up now they really just don’t care “My team is working on
nance, said he thinks his someone,” Bolt said. “I think that he’s gone. as much anymore,” Bolt that but we haven’t con-
rival will be back. But Bolt what made me stand out “The biggest thing with Ja- said. “A lot of them are sat- firmed anything yet!”q

Solid run puts Froome back in control in Spanish Vuelta

CAMALENO, Spain (AP) — than two minutes behind
Chris Froome retook con- Froome. “Today worked
trol of the Spanish Vuelta out perfectly in my favor,”
with a solid run in a stage said Froome, who is seek-
won by Belgian rider Sand- ing his first Vuelta title. “It
er Armee on Thursday. feels great (to gain time
Froome struggled in the dif- on Nibali), especially after
ficult climb of Los Machu- a difficult day yesterday.
cos on Wednesday, losing The morale is still good,
42 seconds to his challeng- the team is still strong, and
ers, but he recovered with we’re just looking forward
a strong charge in the final to getting through these
climb of the 169-kilome- next couple (of) days.”
ter (105-mile) stage from Armee entered the final ki-
Suances to Camaleno in lometer together with Alex-
northern Spain. ey Lutsenko of Kazakhstan,
The Tour de France winner but the Belgian broke free
increased his overall lead with about 500 meters to
to 1 minute, 37 seconds go and comfortably won
over Vincenzo Nibali of the stage by 31 seconds.
Italy. Giovanni Visconti of Italy
Wilco Kelderman of the was third, 46 seconds be-
Netherlands is third, more hind Armee. q