Usain Bolt will make his long-awaited debut in the IAAF Diamond League today, headlining a star-studded cast that will take center stage at the Golden Grand Prix.
The 23-year-old double world record-holder will run the 200 meters and once again all eyes will be more focused on the clock rather than the finish, with the long-striding six-footer expected to dismiss his competition and win easily.
Already this year, Bolt has run a world-leading 19.56 seconds and fans and pundits will be anxious to see if the 100 and 200 meters world and Olympic champion can lower that time.
As usual, Bolt was quick to play down talk of a new world record, stressing that he was just focused on running fast and winning the event.
“I don’t know how close I can get. I’ll try to run hard to execute as I’m always keen to give my fans a good show. That’s always my aim,” Bolt told reporters.
He is coming off an easy win in Daegu, South Korea on Wednesday where he sped to a world-leading 9.86 seconds in his first 100 metres of the season.
Bolt said while there were improvements to be made, he was relatively pleased with how he had launched his 2010 campaign.
He will face fellow Jamaican Steve Mullings, along with the Netherland Antilles’ Churandy Martina, who finished fourth in the 100 metres at the Beijing Olympics two years ago.
The men’s 110 meters hurdles will also create some excitement as World champion Barbadian Ryan Brathwaite clashes with the fastest man in the world this year, American David Oliver.
World record-holder and Olympic champion, Cuban Dayron Robles, will be missing, but the return of hometown boy Liu Xiang is sure to make for an interesting contest.
In the women’s 100 meters, reigning world and Olympic 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser will go head-to-head with American Carmelita Jeter, the fastest woman in the world this year.
Bahamian Chandra Sturrup and Schillonie Calvert will also line up in the event, with American Bianca Knight, who won the 200 meters in Daegu, expected to challenge.
Reigning World and Olympic champion Jamaican Melaine Walker will look to capture the 400 metres hurdles, while her compatriot Kenia Sinclair will take aim at her second win in five days when she lines up in the 800 metres.