TOKYO, Japan, CMC – Legendary sprinter Usain Bolt is optimistic that one of Jamaica’s three representatives in the men’s 100 metres at the World Championships can win the marquee event and become the first Jamaican to win the event in a decade.
Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville, and Akeem Blake will seek to become the first Jamaican to claim the men’s world title since Bolt achieved the feat back in 2015, when the Championships get underway on Saturday.
Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and 11-time World champion who is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, said he is hopeful of a Jamaican victory in the event.
“I’m happy. As you said, it’s been a while since just the girls have been carrying it, so I’m glad to see this.
“I don’t feel like they should lose. [If any of them win, then I’ll be happy for it,” Bolt told The Gleaner.
Thompson, the world leader, has a season’s best time of 9.75 seconds, while Seville’s season’s best of 9.83 will see both men entering the championships ranked first and fifth, respectively.
Blake, who has clocked 9.88 seconds, sits just outside the top 10, ranked 11th globally.
Bolt said if either of them were to win gold, he’d be honoured to present them with the medal.
“I’m just looking forward to being in the stadium and being able to cheer them on and maybe even get to present a gold medal to one of them.
“That’s something that I’d really love, so I just wish them all the best, and I know they will do well,” Bolt said.
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