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Usain Bolt upbeat over fitness ahead of Beijing showpiece

Jamaica's Usain Bolt does his trademark 'Lightening Bolt' after winning the gold medal in the Men's 200m final at the Olympics
Image: Jamaica's Usain Bolt does his trademark 'Lightening Bolt' after winning the gold medal in the Men's 200m final at the Olympics

Usain Bolt is confident over his fitness ahead of the World Championships in Bejing, despite being out for six weeks with a pelvic injury.

The world's fastest man will continue his recovery at the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games in London on Friday as he continues his build-up to China. 

Hampered by injury this summer, he is currently ranked 62nd in the world for the 100m with a best of 10.12 seconds, set in April. 

Far from his best, that time is more than half a second slower than favourite Justin Gatlin, who has run under 9.8 seconds four times this year and is unbeaten in his last 23 races. 

now's the best time to meet Bolt
Chujindu Ujah

Bolt's 200m best of 20.13 this year also falls behind Gatlin, who has the four fastest times of the year and tops the world list with 19.57. 

Many of Bolt's competitors believe the Jamaican will be far from his best in London and British 100m runner Chijindu Ujah, who ran a time of 10.08 at the Diamond League in Monaco on July 17, is one of those keen to take advantage.

"I was having a word with a number of athletes and we were saying now's the best time to meet Bolt," Ujah told the Daily Mail.  

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"He's a bit vulnerable so it will be good for the field to meet him when he's not in the shape he has been and we're confident."

But the six-time Olympic champion banished any suggestion of only running in one event in Beijing, saying: "If my coach (Glen Mills) isn't worried, I'm never worried, he's confident that I can be ready. I'm confident, I've been doing good in training. I'm not worried about times."

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