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berlin 2009™ LOC: Men 200 Meters - Medallists’ press conference

USAIN BOLT (Jamaica, 1st)

Reaction? “What I say is it’s just a great feat for me to have broken my world record. I didn’t know I was going to break it by that much, I just tried my hardest and I’m happy.”

“My main aim is to become a legend, that is my aim and what I’m working on.”

Do you feel under pressure to break world records?
 “I I don’t put myself under any pressure. When I go out there I know what to do so I just go out and execute.”

Birthday tomorrow, how will you  celebrate?
“I’m going to get a long sleep, that’s all I want to do. I’m really, really tired. I can’t see past this guy here, so I just want long sleep.”

About Alsono Edward’s medal.
“It s a great feat, I know what it’s like to do great things when you’re young. He just has to keep working, keep focused, keep his eyes on the prize and he will be a champion one day.”

You said you were not in shape to break 200 record? Is 19 seconds possible now?
“I came here really tired, I was not in condition I was last year. I keep saying anything is possible. I saw the record in Beijing and thought anything is possible. I got focused and said ‘anything is possible’ and I went away and worked as hard as I can. I don’t know about 19 seconds.”

“It doesn’t give me any motivation to break the 400 record, I’ve still got to train really hard. Everybody knows I’m not running 400 unless my coach gives me a good reason to do it. I stay as far away from it as possible.”

On Jamaican positive tests. “The IAAF is waiting on the end of this championships. I’m not going to worry about it, because I work hard, and get tested a lot. I know it is going to be always in the sport, I’ve just got to counter it by being clean and running fast.”

You’re 100 percent clean?
“Yes.”

In 2005 Helsinki, Wallace was second you were eighth. What’s changed?
“I was getting injured year after year. I’d just changed coach and gone to Glenn Mills, the greatest coach ever. (In Helsinki final) I got cramp, stopped.

“The year after that I came back, then 2007 I got second to Tyson Gay in the 200. I wasn’t strong enough so went back and worked on my strength and speed endurance. I knew what I had to do.”

Limits.
“I did not say I could run 9.4, I said 9.4 was possible. I don’t put limits on myself, I just go out and run as  hard as I can.

“Anything is possible, I just went out and ran 19.19. I didn’t think I could run 19.19.”

The relay? “Weve just got to get through rounds. Getting the baton around is first thing. I just hope we can get it around and I go home with three gold medals.”

What do you do if people sceptical that you are clean.
“I keep telling people I’m clean, but I can’t make anyone  believe it. I’ve just got to keep running and training. I get tested all the time.”

ALONSO EDWARD (Panama, 2nd)

“I was working hard since last year but I never thought I could come away with silver medal.”

WALLACE SPEARMON (USA, 3rd)

“I’m just happy I finished the race and did a victory lap and wasn’t disqualified at the end of it.”

“When we first started in 2005 Michael Johnson had the world record at 19.32 and everyone was telling us it can’t be broken. it was and now Usain has shown us what can be done.”

Is he discouraged?
“You can look at any sport, and just because you get beat doesn’t mean you stop trying. I’ve got to go home, work twice as hard, three times as hard, and put a picture of Bolt above my bed.”

“He was injured then (in 2005), I m coming back from injury now and I want to run fast.”

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