×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Bolt set for showdown with Gay and Powell

STOCKHOLM - Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt and top sprint rivals Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell will meet for the first time this year in a 100m showdown at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting next week.

The clash on August 6 will be the first including Jamaican Bolt, American Gay and Bolt's compatriot Powell since they took gold, silver and bronze at the 2009 Berlin world championships, meeting director Rajne Soderberg said yesterday.

It will match the three fastest men of all-time with Bolt the world record holder at 9,58 seconds, followed by Gay (9,69) and Powell (9,72).

"The last time Usain ran here Asafa beat him just before the 2008 Beijing Olympics," Soderberg said. "I think it was the only (100m) race he has lost in his (professional) life so he probably wants to come back for revenge."

Bolt has beaten Gay in both of their 100m races. He holds an 8-1 edge over Powell, the loss coming in the 2008 Stockholm meeting.

Weeks later, Bolt set world records in the 100m and 200m and helped Jamaica eclipse the 4x100m record at Beijing. He went on to break both sprint records at last year's world championships.

Powell and Gay had already been scheduled to take part in the meeting and negotiations to include Bolt began several weeks ago, Soderberg said.

"He (Bolt) had missed a couple of races (with injury) and did not want to run more 200m, so it is a great honour to have him."

The three also will meet in the Diamond League final at Brussels on August 27.

 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.