Bolt: “I’m ready for the Compeed Golden Gala”

Eight days to go to the Compeed Golden Gala. On 26th May the 31st edition of the meeting in the Italian Capital, the third leg of the Samsung Diamond League, is looking forward to the big 100 metres clash which will feature world sprint super star Usain Bolt. For the world record holder, world and olympic champion in the 100 metres (9.58), the 200 metres (19.19) and the 4×100 relay (37.10) the Golden Gala will mark the first ever race in Italy and the comeback to competitions after nine months of absence. The 24-year-old Jamaican star has not run in any races since 6th August 2010 when he was hindered by back problems and had to settle with second place in 9.97 beaten by US Tyson Gay in Stockolm. After the Stockolm’s race Bolt took the decision before the end of the season in order to avoid further physical problems. “I am in good shape and I am ready to start my season”, said Bolt to the National newspaper The Gleaner. I have just returned from Germany where I underwent a check-up. Everything is ok. I am eagerly looking forward to the my debut in Rome to kick off my season” In Rome Bolt will square off against his compatriot and former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell. Bolt leads the direct clashes against Powell by a clear margin with eight wins out of nine races. Powell won only once on 22nd July 2008 in Stockolm when he prevailed with 9.88 to 9.89. The last clash between the two sprinters took place on 16th July at the Paris when “Thunder”- Bolt defeated Powell with 9.84 to 9.91. That meeting also featured young French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre who finished fifth in 10.09. Lemaitre will be another much-awited star of the Compeed Golden Gala. The 20-year-old Frenchman, triple European sprint champion and the first white sprinter able to dip under 10 seconds lowering his lifetime best to 9.97 in Rieti 2010, clocked 10.19 in the 100 metres in April and the 200 metres in 20.33 at the beginning of May. Powell ran faster than Lemaitre last Sunday in Shanghai where he won in 9.95. Powell won three times in Rome in 2006, 2007 and 2010. In the last edition of the Rome meeting Powell beat Lemaitre in 9.82 to 10.09. The meeting record was set in 2009 by Tyson Gay who clocked 9.77 beating Powell who finished second second in 9.88.

The clashes Bolt-Powell in the 100 metres
28.06.2008 Kingston (JAM) Bolt 9.85 (1°) – Powell 9.97 (2°)
22.07.2008 Stockolm (SWE) Bolt 9.89 (2°) – Powell 9.88 (1°)
16.08.2008 Bejing (CHN) Bolt 9.69 (1°) – Powell 9.95 (5°)
05.09.2008 Brussels (BEL) Bolt 9.77 (1°) – Powell 9.83 (2°)
27.06.2009 Kingston (JAM) Bolt 9.86 (1°) – Powell 9.97 (2°)
24.07.2009 London (GBR) Bolt 9.91 (1°) – Powell 10.26 (5°)
16.08.2009 Berlin (GER) Bolt 9.58 (1°) – Powell 9.84 (3°)
28.08.2009 Zurich (SUI) Bolt 9.81 (1°) – Powell 9.88 (2°)
16.07.2010 Paris (FRA) Bolt 9.84 (1°) – Powell 9.91 (2°)
source: All-Athletics.com

The 100 metres line-up at the 2011 Compeed Golden Gala:
Usain BOLT (JAM)
Asafa POWELL (JAM)
Christophe LEMAITRE (FRA)
Lerone CLARKE (JAM)
Rae Monzavous EDWARDS (USA)
Mario FORSYTHE (JAM)
Martial MBANDJOCK (FRA)
Richard THOMPSON (TRI)
Kim COLLINS (SKN)