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| FILE - In this July 27, 2016 file photo, Jamaican Olympic runner Usain Bolt, center, gestures while arriving at Rio de Janeiro International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bolt made his first major appearance Monday, Aug. 8 in Rio de Janeiro leading up to the Olympics, talking about his desire to break 19 seconds in the 200 meters, then ending his engaging news conference by boogieing offstage, accompanied by more than a dozen near-naked Samba dancers. |
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- The "Usain Bolt Variety Hour" hit Brazil, big time, on Monday.
The
closing number said it all: After talking about life, sprinting and the
Olympics - and yes, Bolt insisted the Rio de Janeiro Games will be his
last - the 6-foot-5 Jamaican pulled out his cell phone and started
taking selfies while he shimmied off stage, surrounded by more than a
dozen thong-and-headdress-wearing Samba dancers.
The
evening with Bolt also included his now-immortalized "To The World"
pose, a few serious questions about racing and doping, along with one
reporter who said he had no question, but pronounced: "I really love
you, man," then poetry slammed the following: "I hope you win. I hope
it's your day. I hope you will go even though you get hit by a Segway."
The
now-famous Segway incident occurred after Bolt's victory in the 200
meters last year at the world championships. While taking a victory lap,
a multitasking photographer slammed into the back of Bolt's legs with
his scooter. Bolt bounced up and was no worse for wear.
In
the lead up to the Rio Olympics, his legs haven't fared as well. He
pulled out of his national championships last month with a sore
hamstring, which he has been trying to rehabilitate in time to put on a
show in Brazil.
Bolt takes to the track
Saturday for the early rounds of the 100 meters. If he wins the 100, 200
and 4x100 relay, the way he has at the last two Olympics, he'll close
his Olympic career with nine gold medals.
By now, though, it's as much about the show as the results, and Bolt said as much Monday night.
"I'm
definitely a sprinter first, but I like to entertain," he said. "That's
what people come out to see. They like it when I do crazy stuff. I try
to entertain and make it different, help people enjoy it."
By
doing that, he has obliterated the decades-old image of the sullen,
skulking sprinter - and has also offered a much-needed breath of fresh
air in a sport devoured by doping scandals that have dominated the
lead-up to the Olympics.
"I think we're going
in the right direction," Bolt said. "I must say, we're weeding out the
bad ones. I think people should have faith. We have to go through the
rough times before we get to the good times."
Speaking
of which, Bolt hasn't ruled out a goal he set a long time ago - to
better his record of 19.19 seconds in his favorite race, the 200.
He
has long said he'd like to take the record, which stood at 19.32 for 12
years before he first broke it at the Beijing Olympics, into the
18-second range. But the leg injury leading up to the Olympics made it a
less-manageable goal to pursue. Then, after his only Olympic tune-up
run - a 200 late last month in London - he met with coach Glen Mills,
who told him, "That's one of the worst races you've ever run," according
to Bolt.
Still, why not aim high?
"I really, really, really want that one," Bolt said.
And going after dreams is the main message he wants people to take away from his career.
"For me, it's always to work toward your goal," he said. "It's a hard road. Never let anyone tell you you can't do it."
But
as much as sending messages, Bolt pretty much laughed his way through
30 minutes of dance, drama and jokes. He said the only problem he's
encountered during his stay in Rio had to do with TV. The apartment he's
sharing with teammate Asafa Powell didn't have one.
"Somebody
told us they were going to get it," Bolt said. "After two days, I was
just, 'Buy a TV.' I'm a good teammate. So I got him a TV."
As always, keeping the people entertained.
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