ATHLETICS NEWS - Though he hopes his countryman Yohan Blake will regain his best form this season, Jamaican legend Usain Bolt has also backed South African sensation Wayde van Niekerk to make a return to the summit of international sprinting in his comeback campaign.
Bolt, an eight-time Olympic champion who retired from athletics after the 2017 World Championships, was confident Blake had the ability to reclaim the 100m title he won in 2011, with his sights sets on this year’s global showpiece in Doha.
And while the likes of American speedsters Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman were expected to turn out as favourites for the short sprint events at the World Championships, along with South African record holder Akani Simbine, Bolt felt former part-time training partner Van Niekerk could also be challenging again after he missed the entire 2018 season with a serious knee injury.
It was unclear whether Van Niekerk, considered the world’s most versatile sprinter, would focus on the 100m, 200m or 400m events, as he geared up for an imminent return to the track.
“I’m hoping Yohan Blake gets back into top shape. We’ve trained together over the years, so I really want him to be on top,” said Bolt, who was in the country last week to launch a new brand of Mumm champagne and attended the
glamorous Sun Met horse racing event in Cape Town.
