Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor

Usain Bolt ... 'It's not too hot or humid.' - Charles Pitt/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER

BEIJING:

WORLD RECORD holder Usain Bolt is ready to face all challenges when the heats of the 100 metres begin at the Beijing Olympic Stadium on Friday.

Bolt, who is bidding to become the first man since American Carl Lewis to win the Olympic Games sprint double, worked for almost one hour on his start yesterday on the warm-up track which is just a stone's throw from the main stadium.

Ready for battle

Under the watchful eyes of his coach, Glen Mills, he looked alert and ready for battle.

In his last 100m race before Beijing, Bolt had a less than perfect start and ended up just beaten by compatriot Asafa Powell at the DN Galan meet in Stockholm, Sweden on July 22.

The lanky 21-year-old said he was pleased with yesterday's workout, the first since the Jamaican track-and-field squad arrived from their pre-Games training camp in Tianjin on Monday.

"It's my first day of training here. It's not too hot or humid, so it's okay," Bolt said as he made his way to a bus that would take him back to the Games Village.

The Willliam Knibb High past student is well aware of the enormous task he faces, first on Friday in the heats and second round of the 100m and in the semi-finals and final on Saturday, if he gets that far.

"I better be," was his reply when asked if he considered himself in top shape ahead of the start of the 100m.

Bolt added that his plan, as always, was "to go out there, stay focused and run".

American Tyson Gay, according to a report on the International Association of Athletics Federation website, has said it may take a world record to win gold in the 100m here.

Gay said "The record (world) can go and the guys can go 9.6".

Bolt's world record for the 100m is 9.72, a time he set on May 31 in New York. He is also the world leader in the 200m with 19.67.

Final Preparation

Bolt was just one of several top Jamaican athletes at the warm-up facility yesterday. Also going through final preparations were Veronica Campbell-Brown, who won 200m gold in Athens four years ago, hurdler Delloreen Ennis-London, shot putter Dorian Scott, world decathlon silver medalist Maurice Smith, 200m runner Chris Williams and national 400m champion Michael Blackwood.