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Good luck Usain - you'll need it, says Lewis

Usain Bolt has his eyes on four golds at the London Olympics 2012 © Getty Images

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Nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis has warned Usain Bolt that luck will play a big part in his bid to emulate the American's record medal haul this summer.

The American sprint and long jump legend claimed four track and field golds at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, a feat which Bolt is intent on equalling with victories in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

And Lewis, 50, believes that the relays represent the greatest threat to the Jamaican's bid to complete his four-front assault in London.

Bolt will be relying on his teammates in both events, and although the 100m and 200m world record-holder has competed over the quarter-mile in the past, he turned his focus toward the shorter sprints in 2007, although he has spoken of his desire to return to the event in the future.

But the 25-year-old is confident that he can step up in London while defending the three Olympic titles he claimed in Beijing.

"Every event is not guaranteed," said Lewis. "In the relays you can't afford to drop the baton.

"Being from America, I'll warn Usain that the 4x400m is going to be pretty tough. I don't remember when we last lost that.

"But I think people should try to set goals and really focus on being the best they can be. So I wish the best to anyone who is trying to do multiple events, it's great for the sport."

Lewis matched the four gold medals won by fellow American Jesse Owens in Berlin in 1936 with victories in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and long jump and went on to claim a further five golds and a silver in Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta.

"I was fortunate that everything came together to achieve that," admitted the American. "A lot of things have to happen, no matter who you are, to win those multiple events."

Bolt has missed both of his traditional season curtain-raisers, the Camperdown Classic and Gibson Relays in Jamaica, in recent weeks after reportedly flying to Europe to see renowned sport medicine doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt.

He has played down rumours of injury in this Olympic year, however, with his father telling reporters that his son was ready to run 9.40sec in London.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.