Bolt to headline Paris Diamond League meet
Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt will compete at the Paris meet of the
IAAF Diamond League on July 16, organisers said Monday.
Bolt, the world and Olympic champion in the 100 and 200m - in both of
which he is also world record holder (9.58 and 19.19sec respectively),
will take part in the 100m.
The Jamaican won the event when he appeared at last year’s Golden
League meeting at the Stade de France, clocking 9.79sec despite cold and
rainy conditions.
“His potential remains an enigma; nobody knows what he’s capable of,”
said Paris meet organiser Laurent Boquillet.
“He is in a class of his own, but his presence should electrify the
rest of the race.
We may see other athletes benefit from the high pace to record some
very good times.” Bolt will be up against team-mate and former world
record holder Asafa Powell (9.77 in 2005, 9.74 in 2007).
The Paris meet is the ninth of the 14-leg Diamond League, launched by
the IAAF this season to replace the Golden League series of six meetings
in a bid to enhance the worldwide appeal of athletics by going outside
Europe for the first time.
The Qatari capital of Doha will be the location for the first event
on May 14 with the series concluding in Brussels on August 27. PARIS,
AFP
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