Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has supported Kishane Thompson or Schuine Seville to beat title defender Noah Lyles in the 100m at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Bolt is a 11-time world champion and has consecutive World 100m, 200m and 4x100m Relay Golds won from 2009 to 2015 with the exception of a false start of 100m in 2011.
The now 39-year-old retired after the worlds of 2017 in London, where he won a final bronze in the 100m, won by the American rival Justin Gatlin.
Gatlin, Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley and Lyles have all triumphed for the United States in the Blue Riband event during the last four world championships.
Bolt, however, stated on Thursday that there would be a change in Tokyo and Jamaica could have been looking forward to a first World Sprint title since 2015.
“Kishane and Oblial have really shown this season that they are really doing very well,” said Bolt.
“They should be at least 1-2 because they have proven the entire season that they are at the top and they run fast times.
“So it’s just about implementation.”
Thompson won 100m silver at the Paris Olympic Games last year behind Lyles and this season has set a world leader of 9.75 seconds, while Sevilla Vierde has defeated twice more than 100 m in the 100m in the last world champions.
Bolt added: “I am happy to go and see the stadium. Hopefully I can present the gold medal to one of them!”
Bolt, known for his calm and cool approach to the high intensity world of Baanprinting, ordered Thompson and Sevilla “just don’t listen to the noise”.
“It is about one of those who executs, and it should be good,” he said. “I am confident that they can get it done.”
Lyles not crazy
When asked about the pronounced person of Lyles and Riffen of Jamaican prospects in the Japanese capital, Bolt played the words of the American.
“I don’t think Noah is as crazy as Justin (Gatlin),” said Bolt, who also won eight Olympic gold medals. “
“For me it is no difference. It has been just like Gatlin over the years: we have pushed back and forth.”
Gatlin, he said, “was another race because he stood up in an era in which trash talking was just normal for everyone”.
“So, for me, as you know, I never listen to someone,” Bolt added. “I know that when I am prepared and ready for it, you can say what you want, you are not going to beat me. Always focused and ready, so it would never be a problem.”
Bolt was also in a self -assured mood that his 100m world record of 9.58 seconds, which settled on the Berlin worlds of 2009, would not worry quickly.
“No, I’m not worried,” he said. “Athletes will come, and they will do well, but at the moment I see nothing that they can do to break a world record, so I’m not worried.
“Everything evolves in life. We think we are trying to get better, try to go faster, so it’s something you expect.
“It will be no surprise if it really happens. We just have to wait and see what is happening.”
Bolt, however, admitted that he would rather have one of his own children breaking the record, although he does not mean his breath.
“I always hoped that one of my children, my boys, maybe track and field will do,” he said.
“I don’t know. They don’t show talent yet. Hopefully they get better, we’ll see!”
