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London 2012: Usain Bolt unlikely to dominate – Carl Lewis
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt powers his way to victory at the men’s 100m semifinal 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 16, 2008. PHOTO/Joe Klamar/AFP
Olympic legend Carl Lewis has cast doubt on sprint sensation Usain Bolt’s repeating as 100-metre champion at the London Olympics starting later this month.
Jamaica’s Bolt will start as defending champion in both sprints after dominating in Beijing four years ago.
Lewis, who won gold in the event at the 1984 Los Angeles showpiece and four years later in Seoul, said it was difficult for sprinters to remain in peak condition for extended periods.
“The reason it hasn’t been done is because it’s hard to stay at that level for a long period of time. People are always trying to beat you when you are a champion,” Lewis pointed out.
“Yohan Blake has beaten Bolt two years in a row now after the World Championships in 2011 and we don’t know what Bolt’s head is like when he loses.”
He continued: “It’s a challenge to win two in a row but history defines greatness. You don’t have greatness in your time – you are great because of history.
“We always try to predict which races are going to be great but you just don’t know and that is the brilliant thing about it.”
