Bolt seals Commonwealth gold for Jamaica's 4x100m team at last year's Games in Glasgow. Scott Heppell
Scott Heppell
WORLD’S FASTEST MAN Usain Bolt has admitted to sacrificing fast food in a bid to extend his stellar sprinting career.
In an interview with the IAAF Inside Athletics programme released on today, Bolt said curbing off-track activities as the years rolled by had been easy compared to having to watch his diet.
“I’ve cut back on a lot of things,” said the 28-year-old six-time Olympic gold medallist who had a growing reputation in his younger years for liking the nightlife and, famously, eating chicken nuggets before his Olympic 100m final win in 2008.
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“When I really realised I was getting older was last season when I got injured.
Bolt reacts to being DQd for a false start at the 2011 World Championships. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
“Trying to get back was much harder than the years when I was younger. Now it takes time for me to get going and I need a lot more races.
“I’ve noticed that I have to be very careful and I just have to be aware of everything around me and make sure I’m on point.
I’ve started eating healthy. That’s the hardest thing for me right now is the sacrifices, eating vegetables all the time.
“Everything else is easy to give up, but eating healthy is really hard!”
Bolt, who has been struggling with a pelvic injury but is slated to compete at the Diamond League meet in London on Friday, also moved to end talk of him potentially stepping up to the 400m, insisting the one-lap race was too draining, but hinted he might have a shot at making the 4x400m relay team for the 2017 worlds in London.
“It’s definitely the pain,” he said of his reason not to step up.
‘It would be nice’
“I don’t want to do that! I told the coach we’re not going to do it. He also expressed that maybe I should try, but I’ve already talked him down — it’s not going to happen.
“I think I’ll go through my career with my 100 and 200 metres. I’ve said to a few of the 4x400m guys that in 2017 I’ll just do the 100m and then try the 4x400m.
“I’ll train myself, probably run a few (less races) in 2017 and then see if I’ll be ready. It would be nice to run a 4x400m at a championships.”
New strict diet means no more pre-race chicken nuggets for Usain Bolt
WORLD’S FASTEST MAN Usain Bolt has admitted to sacrificing fast food in a bid to extend his stellar sprinting career.
In an interview with the IAAF Inside Athletics programme released on today, Bolt said curbing off-track activities as the years rolled by had been easy compared to having to watch his diet.
“I’ve cut back on a lot of things,” said the 28-year-old six-time Olympic gold medallist who had a growing reputation in his younger years for liking the nightlife and, famously, eating chicken nuggets before his Olympic 100m final win in 2008.
“When I really realised I was getting older was last season when I got injured.
“Trying to get back was much harder than the years when I was younger. Now it takes time for me to get going and I need a lot more races.
“I’ve noticed that I have to be very careful and I just have to be aware of everything around me and make sure I’m on point.
“Everything else is easy to give up, but eating healthy is really hard!”
Bolt, who has been struggling with a pelvic injury but is slated to compete at the Diamond League meet in London on Friday, also moved to end talk of him potentially stepping up to the 400m, insisting the one-lap race was too draining, but hinted he might have a shot at making the 4x400m relay team for the 2017 worlds in London.
“It’s definitely the pain,” he said of his reason not to step up.
‘It would be nice’
“I don’t want to do that! I told the coach we’re not going to do it. He also expressed that maybe I should try, but I’ve already talked him down — it’s not going to happen.
“I think I’ll go through my career with my 100 and 200 metres. I’ve said to a few of the 4x400m guys that in 2017 I’ll just do the 100m and then try the 4x400m.
“I’ll train myself, probably run a few (less races) in 2017 and then see if I’ll be ready. It would be nice to run a 4x400m at a championships.”
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