Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

Triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt at a reception and press conference held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

TRIPLE Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has warned his main rivals, fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay, that he will be ready for more battles next season.

Bolt was speaking at a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel yesterday after he was given a hero's welcome home by government ministers, other officials and many fans who lined the streets of Kingston in heavy rain to cheer their champion.

Bolt, who has only lost once to former world 100m record holder Powell over the distance this season, is now the man to beat over both the short sprint and the 200 metres.

Apart from winning the Olympic title, Bolt broke the world 100 metres record twice. He lowered his world record mark of 9.72 seconds, achieved in May in New York, when he clocked 9.69 to take the Olympic gold on August 16 in Beijing.

'Will be ready'

"I told the two best guys, Asafa (Powell) and Tyson (Gay) that I am looking forward to competing against them (next season)," Bolt said.

Bolt said he told them: "I know you guys are coming next season, but I will be ready."

Hard work involved

Bolt, who also broke the 200 metres world record, previously held by American Michael Johnson when he clocked 19.30 seconds for his second Olympic title, and then helped Jamaica to the 4x100m gold in a world record 37.10 seconds, admitted that it took very hard work to get to the top, "but it's even harder to stay on top."

"I know they are also looking to (next year's) competition," continued Bolt, who became the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the sprint double at the Games.

But the Trelawny native said he, too, was looking forward to the clashes of 2009 as he had a lot more left in him.

"I know they will be coming faster next year ... but a lot of people know that I have a lot more in me," said Bolt.