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Bolt targeting London 2012 glory

Usain Bolt has shown a clean pair of heels to his rivals © Getty Images

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Usain Bolt has fired out a shuddering warning to his sprint rivals that he can take the 100 metre record under 9.5 and is salivating at the prospect of competing at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Bolt has taken sprinting to a new level since breaking on to the world stage at the 2008 Olympics. He is the proud holder of the 100 and 200-metre records and is training his sights on taking Michael Johnson's 300-metre record that has stood for 10 years. The 23-year-old claims he will attempt to try and keep his efforts just below boiling point in 2010, but is ready to lower the world record if the need arises.

"This year, without a world championships or Olympics, might be more difficult," Bolt told the Guardian. "You can slack off because you don't have to worry so much. But I have to try and stay on top because I owe it to my sponsors, Puma, who stuck by me when I was young and had some injuries. I also owe it the fans because they come out to see me win.

"I'm now on a six-week programme to get into shape because my main goal is to stay unbeaten this year. I saw [fellow Jamaican] Asafa Powell in training and he's looking good. But this year I want to take it as easy as possible. Of course, if I need to run as fast as 9.5 to stay unbeaten I have to do it. But if I just have to run 9.9 to win every race, then that's what I want - because next year is different. I have to get back to 9.5 next year.

"The best is still to come. I've never run just straight and focused on getting to the finish line. I'm always looking over at the other guys to see where they are. So one day, if I can stay focused and run really fast right through, then I could do it.

"I think the record is going to end up at 9.4 something and then it's going to be stuck there a long time. It will be hard to break. But you never really know. Anything is possible."

Bolt is a showman on the track, eager to thrill his legion of fans, and the prospect of lighting up London is an enticing one for him.

"2012 is one thing I'm thinking about always," Bolt said. "It's not even the fact that it's the Olympics - it's the crowd. The crowd is going to be just wonderful and I think it'll probably be one of the best Olympics ever.

"I've been telling people it's going to be nerve-racking if you're not mentally prepared," Bolt said. "If you're not ready for that, then don't go. Jamaicans are loud - very loud. They're not like other crowds who just sit around. And they don't just cheer after the race. They cheer before the race and then they go crazy. So that's why I'm looking forward to London.

"I'm a performer. People love me and I love the crowd. My one friend's got a talk that always make me laugh. He says: 'When you see me on the street it's not for the cameras, it's for the people. And when you see me on the track it's not for the people, it's for the camera.' It's all fun. People are saying now, 'I'm trying to get my ticket for 2012, I'm trying this or that.' I just pray they have enough space in London for all the people who are going to be there."

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