The whole world may be waiting to watch Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin renew their rivalry in the Olympic 100 metre final, but Michael Johnson says it is barely a contest.
Gatlin is seen as the main obstacle between Bolt and a historic ‘triple triple’ of sprint gold medals at Rio 2016, the American having signalled his intent by running the fastest time of the year in July.
His 9.80 seconds at the US Olympic trials in Eugene showed Gatlin – who has served two doping bans in his career – is ready to pressurise Bolt, the Jamaican having only just returned from a hamstring injury.
Bolt has promised to let Gatlin “feel his full wrath” at the Games, stoking up their rivalry ahead of the 100m final on August 14.
And Johnson fully expects the Jamaican to deliver, insisting the pace duo are not truly rivals for gold later this month.
Speaking courtesy of Michael Johnson Young Leaders, the four-time gold medallist told Omnisport: “The first thing that you look at in terms of rivalries is what’s the record?
“Bolt’s won seven out of eight, that’s not a really good rivalry to be honest.”
– Michael Johnson Young Leaders aims to empower young people, who have overcome adversity with the tools they need to fulfil their potential through sport. Michael is personally overseeing a programme of leadership training and mentoring to support the Young Leaders’ own goals and community sport projects, including an initiative in Rio.
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