• London Olympics 2012

Bolt to target four golds in London

Usain Bolt and Sally Pearson were named IAAF Athletes of the Year © Getty Images

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Newly-crowned IAAF Athlete of the Year Usain Bolt has revealed he is hoping to win four golds at London 2012 - by adding the 4x400 metres relay to his list of events.

Bolt won three medals in Beijing three years ago, as he set records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. The Jamaican has long been linked with a move to 400m, and admitted on Saturday that he may consider running a full lap in London in order to give himself a chance of winning four golds on the track - something only Carl Lewis (at the 1984 Games) has previously managed.

However, Bolt stressed that he would only consider the move if the relay team had a realistic shot at victory.

"If I can help to get them a gold medal, I will want to go on that team," Bolt said. "I've expressed that to my coach. If I am fit I think I can do it.

"I definitely would want to try because if I do as well as in Berlin, the 4x4 would top it off and even make it a little bit much better.

"I will probably be in good shape and I know the guys are really stepping up the 400 level in Jamaica."

The Olympic schedule should allow Bolt the necessary recovery time to attempt the feat, although he will have to prove his speed in the longer event - his personal best over 400m is an unremarkable 45.28 seconds, although his manager insists he has run faster in informal settings.

Elsewhere, in Monaco the IAAF awarded Australian hurdler Sally Pearson the female equivalent of Bolt's award, after her stunning victory in the 100m hurdles at this year's World Championships in Daegu.

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