Agence France Presse
Beijing, August 28: Usain Bolt said he might end his glittering career at next year’s Olympics after he completed a world sprint double here Thursday — and got clattered by an electric scooter into the bargain.
The towering Jamaican said he was only 50-50 about running at the next world championships in 2017 in London, and could retire at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics instead.
“After Rio, as I said, my sponsors want me to go one more year, but my coach told me that if I would not be serious about going to the world championships in London then I shouldn’t do it,” Bolt told reporters.
“So it’s all about how I feel after Rio, if I feel I can really put my body through one more season. That will determine if I compete after Rio. So we’ll see how it goes,”
Bolt, troubled by pelvic problems this year, was pushed all the way by Justin Gatlin in Sunday’s 100m, but had an easier ride in the 200m as he beat the American by nearly two-tenths of a second.
It was the fourth consecutive world 200m title for the 29-year-old, who has won all but one world and Olympic sprint competitions since he lit up the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
However, Bolt’s celebrations came to a sticky end at the Bird’s Nest Stadium here Thursday when a TV cameraman riding a segway lost control and ploughed into him from behind, sending the Jamaican flying.
“I probably should get my legs insured,” smiled the six-times Olympic champion. “It was pretty scary when it happened but accidents happen.”
Next up, Bolt and Gatlin will race again in Brussels September, but not against each other, organisers of the Van Damme Diamond League meeting said Friday.
“No chance for rematch,” meeting director Wilfried Meert said. “It will be Gatlin in the 100 and Bolt in the 200.”
