(Jamaica Gleaner) Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt, has hit back at International Olympic Association president Jacques Rogge, asking what else is needed for him to be considered a legend, after the Olympics boss dismissed Bolt’s claim to being a legend after repeating his 100m and 200m titles at the Olympic Games.
Bolt secured his sixth Olympic gold medal and sixth world record, after anchoring Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m relay team to a 36.84 seconds win, making them the first team to breach the 37 seconds barriers.
“I am the greatest, no doubt about that, I am a legend. I have done something that no one else has ever done, so it’s without question that I am a legend,” said Bolt after his double success.
Rogge was, however, in disagreement, stating that the Jamaican had quite a way to go before he could be considered a legend of the sport.
“The career of Usain Bolt has to be judged when the career stops,” Rogge said. “If you look at the career of Carl Lewis, he had (four) consecutive games with a medal.”
“Let Usain Bolt be free of injury,” Rogge said. “Let him keep his motivation which I think will be the case. Let him participate in three, four games, and he can be a legend. Already he’s an icon.”
Bolt puzzled
Bolt, was left puzzled by Rogge’s statements and had questions of his own for the IOC president.
“I have to ask him, what else do I need to do?” Bolt asked. “I’m world record holder in both events, I have broken world records a couple of times, I am Olympic champion twice, I am world champion, I have done everything there is to do in my event.”
“That’s what I need to ask him and that’s what the interviewers should have asked him,” said Bolt.
The triple world record holder said that he had no preference between his Beijing triple medal haul and the London returns, and also pointed out that he now has his eyes set on the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, even if it will be extremely difficult for him to dominate there.
“It doesn’t get better than this, unless I can go to Rio and do it again, but I think it’s going to get even harder to do,” said Bolt. “I want to be in Rio, as long as I am fit and ready I will be there.”
“Right now, I have done what I wanted to do so I don’t need to worry about motivation at this point, when I set my next target then I will figure out how to motivate myself,” Bolt said. “I have done what I came here to do so there is no more goals right now.”
The big Jamaican also stated that he is considering returning to Great Britain for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“Commonwealth Games? That’s the only title I don’t have so maybe, perhaps I need to (be there),” said Bolt.
Bolt along with Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Yohan Blake romped to a new world record, capping Jamaica’s most successful Olympic campaign with 12 medals (four gold, four silver, four bronze).
The US were second in 37.04, matching the old world record with Trinidad and Tobago claiming the bronze in 38.12, after Canada were disqualified.
The Jamaicans had earlier won bronze in the women’s 4x400m, with the team of Christine Day, Rosemarie Whyte, Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams-Mills, getting the bronze in 3:20.95. USA were dominant in winning, stopping the clock at 3:16.87, with Russia finishing second 3:20.23.
