Bolt braces for competitive track worlds

Usain Bolt will put his famous "Who faster?" taunt to the test again at the world track and field championships in Daegu, South Korea.

So far, it has worked every time it has mattered most.

Ever since his stunning world records and gold medals in the men's 100- and 200-metre sprints at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and his repeat at the 2009 worlds in Berlin, the Jamaican sprinter has become a global sports superstar.

So when the championships open Saturday, most of the attention will focus on Bolt. Not that he minds. As usual, he is already making light of the pressure and expectations.

"I am always confident. I am unbeaten this year and aim to defend all my titles in Daegu," Bolt told The Associated Press in an email.

On top of his individual gold medals, he also helped Jamaica win titles in the sprint relays at Beijing and Berlin.

Yet he needs another overpowering show at the 53,000-capacity Daegu Stadium because his statistics over the past two years have not completely matched his braggadocio.

When it comes to "who faster?" in the 100 in 2011, Bolt is not on top of the list. He is not even the top Jamaican. His compatriot Asafa Powell holds the leading time of 9.78 seconds, with Bolt posting the sixth-fastest time of 9.86 — way off his world record of 9.58.

He is not worried, though, having been in similar positions before.

Two years ago, Tyson Gay was fastest ahead of the world championships but when it came to the biggest matchup of the competition, Bolt blew everyone away with a world record.

"I think it will be the same as Berlin. Some people ran well in the early season, but it is the championships that count," Bolt said. "We always train to peak at the major championships. My coach sets out the program with this as the goal."

Gay had been hampered by a sore groin in Berlin and injury caught up with him even before the championships this year. The American pulled out of the 100 meters at the U.S. nationals in June because of a hip injury.

Bolt was troubled by a bad back last year, and even if his times have been less than exceptional since, he says it no longer bothers him.

"The back injury was last year. I haven't had any problems with it this year," he said.

Just don't count on world records this year.

Powell likely is the main challenger to Bolt, but the former world-record holder has been prone to pressure of the big events. Bolt said there is no underestimating Powell this year.

"Asafa has always been a good athlete. He has been running fast for many years and deserves a lot of respect for his achievements," he said.

Bolt's domination in the 200 one year after coming off his injury is far less contested with a world-leading time this year of 19.86, also still far off his world record of 19.19. In the 200, his closest challenger is also Jamaican, 21-year-old Nickel Ashmeade.

It also highlights another theme of the championships — the Jamaican sprint domination over the Americans.

With Gay out, and Michael Rodgers accepting a provisional doping suspension after testing positive for a banned stimulant he says he ingested by accident, the duel looks lopsided again coming into the championships.

If anything, the depth of the Jamaican teams looks even better than years past, said Bolt.

"This year, Jamaica will still have a very strong team," he said. "So it will be even harder for everyone else."