Glasgow will be treated to a double dose of Usain Bolt after the world's fastest man confirmed he would run in the heats as well as the final of the 4x100metres relay at the Commonwealth Games.
The Jamaican landed in Scotland on Saturday afternoon to add some much-needed star quality to a Games which have been hit by the withdrawal of high-profile athletes like Mo Farah.
He has yet to race this year after taking time to recover from a foot injury, but told at a packed press conference the problem had 'completely gone' and he was in 'pretty good shape'.
Relaxed: Jamaica's Usain Bolt jokes with reporters during his press conference at the Commonwealth Games
Happy to please: Bolt poses with Clyde the mascot and children from Giffnock Athletics Club
Incredulous: Bolt did not like it when a reporter questioned whether he would really run in Glasgow
His desire to get races under his belt
means he will take to the Hampden Park track next Friday for the relay
heats and Saturday for the final - provided, of course, his Jamaican
team get the baton round.
'I
will be running in the heats - I think I need the runs, really, because
this is my first run of the season, so I really need to get it going,'
the six-time Olympic champion said.
'The
injury is completely gone. Fitness-wise I have done a lot of training
over this past month - I have been really pushing myself. I think I am
in pretty good shape, but I'm not in running shape - that's why I am
running the heats, just to get a few runs in.
'I
won't be doing a lot of races this season - just four. So, for me, I am
just taking my time, trying to get myself in running shape, but not
push myself too much and then get injured again.
'I
am focused on getting through the season and getting some races in.
(The) Rio (Olympics) are two years away. I have to go to the World
Championships (in Beijing in August next year) first, so I'm taking my
time and working my way to the World Championships. Then I'll worry
about Rio.'
Bolt told the media conference just
after flying into Scotland of a long-held ambition to be a Commonwealth
athlete and that he will be running in the heats of the relay as well in
order to get his fitness right.
'For me it was very important (to be here),' he said.
'I
expressed it to my coach and I am happy to be here. I have always
wanted to compete in the Games. The first one in Australia (in 2006) I
strained my hamstring and in 2010 in India it was in October, which is a
bad time for me.
'I got injured earlier in this season and I didn't want to take anyone's spot so I decided "why not just come in the 4x100m?"'
World champ: Bolt celebrates winning the 4x100m relay at the World Championships last year
Smiling Bolt: The Jamaican sprinter looked in high spirits at his press conference on Saturday
Bolt
fielded lots of left-field requests during the press conference,
ranging from asking if he would wear a kilt to journalists asking him
for a selfie.
Serious
questions were posed, though, such as if he felt that the Games needed
him and other big names to commit after the withdrawal of a number of
stars.
'I don't think anyone
has dropped on purpose,' he added. 'It happens in the Olympics, it
happens in the World Championships. It's one of those things.'
Bolt also buried his head in his hands while laughing when asked if he had any plans to pull out himself.
'That's
a very weird question,' he said. 'I am here to run. Why else would I
travel all this way to Glasgow? I will be running,
Oakley Sunglases, definitely.'
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