Athletics: Gatlin Still Confident Of Beating Usain Bolt

Justin Gatlin believes he can still beat sprint rival Usain Bolt, despite two defeats by the Jamaican at the recent World Championships in Beijing.

The American, 33, has run personal bests for the 100m and 200m this season - and says he can still go faster.

"Each year in the last three years I just focus on being a better athlete and trying to improve and that has shown in my performances," he said.

I Won't Race Again In 2015 - Usain Bolt

Jamaica's Usain Bolt's 2015 season is over. The Jamaican sprinter took to Facebook on Monday to announce he will withdraw from the Diamond League final in Brussels, Belgium, this week and take off the remainder of the year to prepare for the Olympic year:

Bolt, 29, finishes 2015 undefeated for the second straight season. He has not lost a race since June 2013, which is the longest undefeated streak of his career, per Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports.

One of the most decorated sprinters in history, Bolt holds the world record in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He won the gold medal in both events at the 2012 London Games and added another gold with his Jamaican teammates in the 4x100-meter sprint. That run of dominance hasn't subsided over the last three years, as Bolt took home first place in last month's World Championships in all three events.

Usain Bolt Is The Messi Of Athletics

Luis Enrique has compared Usain Bolt to Barcelona star Lionel Messi, stating that he is the best sprinter of all time.

The 29-year-old beat Justin Gatlin in Beijing to lift gold in the 200m at the world championships for the fourth time in a row. And the Barca coach believes that the Jamaican is to athletics what Messi is to football.

"You could make a good comparison between Messi and Bolt," he told reporters.

World Championships 2015: Bolt Beats Gatlin In 200m Men's Final

Usain Bolt won the rematch and 200m gold as he ran a wonderful bend to once again leave rival Justin Gatlin chasing silver and fresh air.

On a sweaty, sticky night in the Bird's Nest, Bolt was out of the blocks quicker and opened up an unassailable lead over the first 100m before coming away down the straight and jabbing his thumbs at his chest as he crossed the line.

His 19.55 seconds was the fastest in the world this year, his speed and peerless championship class too good for American Gatlin, whose 19.74 was well outside his season's best.

World Championships 2015: Usain Bolt Wins Hardest 100m Career Race

Usain Bolt has described his World Championships 100m final victory over Justin Gatlin as the "hardest race" of his career. The Jamaican, 29, lived up to his billing as the saviour of athletics as he held off the challenge of the two-time drug cheat to win in 9.79 seconds. Pre-race favourite Gatlin had to settle for silver in Beijing.

"Coming back from injury I've had a lot of doubters, it's been tough," Bolt said after winning a ninth world title.

He added: "For me to come to the championships and defend my title is a good feeling.

World Championships: Bolt, Gatlin Rivalry Will Light Up Event

Usain Bolt and the controversial Justin Gatlin will get the world championships off to an explosive start when they take their rivalry onto the Beijing track in the 100m heats on Saturday, AFP reports.

Bolt has dominated sprinting since he claimed a golden treble at the Beijing Olympics in the Bird’s Nest stadium, winning nine of 10 individual world and Olympic sprint titles since 2008 — his sole blip being the 100m at the Daegu worlds in 2011.

America’s Gatlin is the man in form but he cuts a contentious figure after serving two doping bans, latterly between 2006-2010 after a positive test for testosterone.

Usain Bolt Will Rule World Championships - Glen Mills

Usain Bolt’s coach, Glen Mills, has backed the sprinting superstar to come good at this month’s World Championships in Beijing.

The 28-year-old Bolt will enter the August 22 to 30 showpiece at the Bird’s Nest with question marks over his form after a series of lacklustre performances in recent months.

However, Mills said while Bolt had suffered several injury setbacks recently, which had affected his preparation, he was the type of athlete who was always highly motivated for major championships.

Oscar Pistorius Now For House Arrest After 10 Months In Prison

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius will soon move to house arrest, after serving just 10 months in prison for fatally shooting his girlfriend two years ago. The sprint runner will move Friday from the Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria, South Africa, to his uncle’s mansion in an affluent suburb of the city.

After his release, he will not have to wear an electronic monitoring device and will likely be allowed to leave the house for mandatory work and important family events.

Lord Coe Can Change Athletics If He Becomes IAAF President - Mo Farah

Lord Coe will "change athletics" if he becomes head of the sport's world governing body,  according to double-Olympic champion Mo Farah.

Coe, vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, finds out on Wednesday if he will succeed Lamine Diack.

The 58-year-old is running against Ukrainian ex-pole vaulter Sergey Bubka to lead the IAAF, as the sport faces widespread doping claims.

NSC Set To Lay Off 250 Athletes From Training Camp

Less than three weeks to the 11th All Africa Games (AAG) in Brazzaville, Congo, the National Sports Commission (NSC) is set to decamp about 250 athletes presently undergoing trials at the various federations’ training facilities.

No fewer than 750 athletes had been invited to camps by the 19 sports federations that will feature athletes at the Brazzaville AAG, but only 450 will make the cut for the games beginning on September 4, 2015.

Director-General of the NSC, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut, told National Mirror exclusively that the Commission would send the 250 home to allow the coaches concentrate on the 450 athletes that will travel to Congo.

Athletics Can Learn From Cycling - Chris Froome

Britain's double Tour de France champion Chris Froome has urged athletics to follow cycling's lead and invest a lot more money in anti-doping. Cycling's problems with drugs are well documented but the sport's blackest days appear to be behind it.

But the ongoing doping allegations in athletics threaten to overshadow this month's World Championships in Beijing.

"From what I understand, the testing hasn't been at the level that it is in cycling," Froome told BBC Sport.

Doping Allegations Is A Declaration Of War On Athletes - Lord Coe

Lord Coe has described allegations of widespread doping in athletics as a "declaration of war" and says it is time to "come out fighting" to protect the sport's reputation.

The Sunday Times published data from 5,000 athletes, which it says reveals an "extraordinary extent of cheating". Athletics' world governing body, the IAAF, said the blood results were not positive tests or proof of doping.

"The fightback has to start here," Coe, an IAAF vice-president, said.

I Will Continue To Be The Number One - King Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt insists he is still king of the sprinters after returning from injury with back-to-back 100m times of 9.87sec at the London Diamond League meeting.

Asked if his winning performances — in the heats and final on a rain-soaked Olympic Stadium track — proved that he was still the world’s number one, the 28-year-old Jamaican replied defiantly: “I was never number two.”

“I am still number one,” said Olympic champion and world record holder Bolt. “I will continue being number one.  Until I retire, that’s the plan.” On 100m times recorded in 2015, Bolt is now ranked number six.

Usain Bolts Returns To Form With 100m Win In Anniversary Games

Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt showed a return to form to win the 100m at the Anniversary Games in London. The Jamaican, who has been struggling for fitness, won both his heat and the final in 9.87 seconds in wet conditions at the Olympic Stadium.

"I really wanted to run faster," said Bolt, 28, who defends his world title next month. "But it's getting there."
Meanwhile, Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah received a great reception as he won the 3,000m.

Farah, 32, was competing in England for the first time since allegations of doping were made against coach Alberto Salazar, claims which Salazar and Farah both deny.

ATHLETICS: World's Top Ten Fastest Human Beings

10) Michael Johnson: At one time, Johnson held two world records. However, neither one was the 100-meter record so he can’t be faster than the other sprinters on the list.

9) Donovan Bailey: Long forgotten, Bailey once held the world 100 record which at the time was 9.84. Plus, he beat Johnson head to head in the infamous 150-meter race.

MICHEAL JOHNSON: Athletics cant be free from doping

Four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson believes it is "unrealistic" to think athletics will ever be drug-free. Six Jamaicans, including former 100m world-record holder Asafa Powell and 2004 Olympic sprint relay champion Sherone Simpson, tested positive for banned substances earlier this year. Read more after the cut.....