Sprinters to run fewer round at Olympics

Usain Bolt will only have to run six times to reclaim his sprint double at this year’s world championships.

At the last worlds in Berlin in 2009 and at the 2008 Beijing Olympics - the Jamaican had to run eight times to win golds and set world records in the 100 and 200 metre races.

Instead of running in three preliminary races ahead of each final, sprinters will now only have to run twice before going for gold at the worlds in Daegu, South Korea, from August 27-September 4.

The same schedule will be used at the 2012 London Olympics. The IAAF said “a brand new and modern approach has led to a revamped and revolutionised competition timetable, which has been designed in order to reach optimum impact.”