Sprint sensation Usain Bolt is a man for the big occasion.
The six-time Olympic champion is looking to once again rise to the occasion at the 14th edition of the IAAF World Championships by going where no man has ever gone before by dipping under the 19-seconds time barrier in the 200metres. For good measure, he has already won the 100m with a new season best of 9.77 seconds.
”The 200m world record would be the one I’d really love to break again, to see if it’s maybe even possible to get it under 19 seconds. That would be something special,” he said.
Bolt’s exploits in Russia will be broadcast live on SuperSport across three channels (SS6HD, SS6 and Maximo) and in two language options (English and Portuguese).
Fresh from a well-deserved silver medal, Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare is also looking at setting her own record by becoming the first Nigerian to win multiple medals in one championship. With the Long Jump silver medal already in her kitty, Blessing will be looking at increasing the tally in the 100m, 200m and 4×100 meters relay.
Two of Africa’s rising track stars, Botswana’s Nijel Amos and Anaso Jobodwana from South Africa, will make their World Championships debuts this weekend.
Amos was the runner-up in David Rudisha’s epic world record run in London last year while Jobodwana was the surprise starter and relative unknown in the 200m final field.
Ethiopia’s Ibrahim Jeilan and Amantle Montsho from Botswana will start the championships with targets on their backs. They are the men’s 10 000m and women’s 400m defending champions.
Other top African line-up of medal prospects at the championship include Ethiopians Meseret Defar, Genzhebe Dibaba, Meselech Melkamu, Ugandans Jacob Araptany and Benjamin Kiplagat, and the South African trio of LJ van Zyl, Cornel Fredericks and Sunette Viljoen, who all reached the finals in their respective disciplines in Daegu two years ago.
