Bolt not worried after poor race in Czech Republic

After running a relatively slow 10.04 seconds in Ostrava last week, Usain Bolt is ready to ramp up his Olympic preparation with a faster time at Thursday’s Golden Gala meet.

The Czech race was Bolt’s first in Europe this season, and the 100—meter world record holder wasn’t 100 percent.

“My legs weren’t feeling that energetic. It was probably lack of sleep or something. I didn’t feel the energy I normally feel,” Bolt said Tuesday. “But since I got here, I’ve gotten a lot of sleep, I’ve been eating properly. Everything seems to be on better track.

“You never have a good race every day you run,” Bolt added. “It was just one of my bad races, and I have to put it behind me. I’m not worried. There are a lot more races to run, and the main one is the one at Olympics.”

Still, with the London Games two months away, the performance in Ostrava raised questions. Not for Bolt, though.

“I never stress over things like this,” Bolt said. “I’ve gone through so much. Even if I lose every race leading up to the Olympics it won’t worry me. I’m confident in myself.”

At the Stadio Olimpico, Bolt will face former world record—holder Asafa Powell and French standout Christophe Lemaitre. The same trio ran in this meet last year, when Bolt made his season debut with a narrow win over Powell in 9.91 seconds.

Bolt’s most recent world record of 9.58 seconds was set at the 2009 world championships in Berlin. He then was disqualified for a false start at last year’s worlds in Daegu, South Korea but that hasn’t dimmed expectations for London.

“I know people are looking forward to me running 9.4. But as you can see there are bad days,” Bolt said, when asked about the London track. “But at championships I always turn up and I always run fast. As long as I’m fit and ready, anything is possible.”

Bolt will also compete in a Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway, on June 7 before returning to Jamaica for national trials. He then plans to return to Europe for a 200 in Monaco on July 20, his last race before the Olympics start a week later.