Lightning Bolt scoops sixth IAAF award

AFP, MONACO: Usain Bolt, winner of a sixth IAAF Athlete of the Year award on Friday, remains a beacon for clean athletes amid doping and corruption scandals that have mired the sport in recent times.
As athletics emerges from its darkest hour fighting to restore its credibility, the reality for track and field is that it will soon have to cross that rocky road without Bolt.
The Jamaican, who sealed an amazing third haul of three Olympic sprint gold medals in Rio, will compete at next year’s world championships in London as his swansong, meaning the next Olympics in Tokyo will not feature one of sport’s most recognisable figures.
“The man is a genius,” IAAF president Sebastian Coe said of Bolt in Rio. “There’s been nobody since Muhammad Ali who’s got remotely near to what this guy has done in terms of grabbing the public imagination.”
Bolt will not be lost to the sport, however, with Coe saying he envisaged the Jamaican, so often able to deflect bad news with his on-track performances, playing a key role in years to come.
“I’ve been very clear, I said ‘Whenever you decide to do other things, let’s make sure in that portfolio of those things you will obviously want to go off and do, we don’t lose you from the sport’,” Coe continued.
“I’m very intent on that,” he 
said, adding: “It’s one of those discussions that probably 
you can in reality only have once someone’s got their competitive years behind them.
“He’s in no doubt at all about how the sport feels about him and certainly how I do as a president.”
Bolt insisted it was “mission accomplished” after signing off with a ‘treble-treble’ in his final Olympic race, predicting that his achievements may never be broken.
The world’s fastest man anchored Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team to gold on a balmy Rio night to capture the 100m, 200m and relay titles for a third straight Games.
“I hope I’ve set the bar high enough that no one can do it again,” said Bolt.
“I’ll have to make a new bucket list now, I’ve achieved all I wanted to in track and field.”
Bolt, who has now won an astonishing 20 Olympic and world titles, matched American sprinter and long jumper Carl Lewis and Finnish long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi with nine Olympic golds.
Lewis won his between 1984 and 1996, while Nurmi racked up the same tally in the 1920s.
Bolt insisted all of his gold medals were special.
“They all mean the world to me,” he said. “It’s nine — all of them are special and they all came along at the right time.
“I’ve proven to the world I’m the greatest so it’s mission accomplished!”

Lightning Bolt scoops sixth IAAF award

AFP, MONACO: Usain Bolt, winner of a sixth IAAF Athlete of the Year award on Friday, remains a beacon for clean athletes amid doping and corruption scandals that have mired the sport in recent times. As athletics emerges from its darkest hour fighting to restore its credibility, the reality for track and field is that it will soon have to cross that rocky road without Bolt. The Jamaican, who sealed an amazing third haul of three Olympic sprint gold medals in Rio, will compete at next years world championships in London as his swansong, meaning the next Olympics in Tokyo will not feature one of sports most recognisable figures. The man is a genius, IAAF president Sebastian Coe said of Bolt in Rio. Theres been nobody since Muhammad Ali whos got remotely near to what this guy has done in terms of grabbing the public imagination. Bolt will not be lost to the sport, however, with Coe saying he envisaged the Jamaican, so often able to deflect bad news with his on-track performances, playing a key role in years to come. Ive been very clear, I said Whenever you decide to do other things, lets make sure in that portfolio of those things you will obviously want to go off and do, we dont lose you from the sport, Coe continued. Im very intent on that, he said, adding: Its one of those discussions that probably you can in reality only have once someones got their competitive years behind them. Hes in no doubt at all about how the sport feels about him and certainly how I do as a president. Bolt insisted it was mission accomplished after signing off with a treble-treble in his final Olympic race, predicting that his achievements may never be broken. The worlds fastest man anchored Jamaicas 4x100m relay team to gold on a balmy Rio night to capture the 100m, 200m and relay titles for a third straight Games. I hope Ive set the bar high enough that no one can do it again, said Bolt. Ill have to make a new bucket list now, Ive achieved all I wanted to in track and field. Bolt, who has now won an astonishing 20 Olympic and world titles, matched American sprinter and long jumper Carl Lewis and Finnish long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi with nine Olympic golds. Lewis won his between 1984 and 1996, while Nurmi racked up the same tally in the 1920s. Bolt insisted all of his gold medals were special. They all mean the world to me, he said. Its nine all of them are special and they all came along at the right time. Ive proven to the world Im the greatest so its mission accomplished!