This year's Olympic line-up is poor, says Usain Bolt

Published 26/07/2016 at 17:41 GMT

Usain Bolt is concerned over the quality of men's sprinting on display so far this year - and hopes it will improve during the Rio Olympics.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt creates his 'Lightning Bolt' pose as he celebrates winning the men's 200m at the IAAF Diamond League Anniversary Games athletics meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stadium in Stratford, east London on July 22, 2016

Image credit: AFP

"This year is one of the poorest I have ever seen as an Olympic (field) for men, really - the women have really shown more promise running fast times," Bolt said in an interview with AP. "(The men) have really unperformed this season, but I'm sure when we get to the Olympics it won't be like that."

Unquestionably the biggest star in men's sprinting - if not athletics altogether - Bolt also commented on the pressure that is on him to draw people to the discipline, and to put on a show.

Usain Bolt strikes a pose as he wins the men's 200m final ahead of Yohan Blake at the London 2012 Olympics (Reuters)

Image credit: Reuters

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"I know the sport needs me to win — and come out on top," he acknowledged.

"People always say to me, 'Usain, when you leave the sport, the sport is going to go down', but I'm not going to look at it like that. There are a lot of athletes stepping up."

He added: "I'm assuming [IAAF president] Seb Coe has a plan. Over time with different ideas, and the athletes that are coming up, the sport will stay current. It will take a while but I think it will get back to its former glory when I walk away."

Bolt refused to confirm that Rio would be his last Olympics, saying that his coach had suggested that he could go on to Tokyo in 2020 if he chose.

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