Usain Bolt

Bolt pushing for glorious finale

The Jamaican sprint superstar will race for the final time at the IAAF World Championships and retire as an icon of world sport.

Bolt has openly admitted to struggles with motivation over the past two years but says the 2016 Olympic Games and the prospect of ending his career on a high have kept him going. 

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist also remains driven by greatness and is determined not to let his fans down when he makes his final competitive appearance at London Stadium.

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Bolt wins final 100m before Worlds

The reigning Olympic champion clocked a season's best time of 9.95 seconds - sub-10 seconds being his target heading into the race - beating Isiah Young and Akani Simbine to first place in the standout event at the Stade Louis II.

After a slow start, Bolt pulled away from the rest of the field to bow out of the Diamond League in victorious fashion.

Having struggled with a back injury this season, Friday's win will be a boost for Bolt ahead of his final race before retiring at the World Championships.

Usain Bolt ready to peak for London

Bolt laboured to a 10.06 seconds 100 metres victory in the Czech Republic last month and immediately travelled to see his doctor German Hans-Wilhelm Mueller- Wohlfahrt for some treatment on the back issues that have troubled him for years.

The Jamaican world record holder will test his treated back in Friday's Diamond League meeting in Monaco, which will be his last outing before he defends his 100m title and then goes in the 4x100m relay in the world championships.

"I'm feeling good," Bolt told a Monaco news conference.

Bolt disappointed despite win

Sprint legend Bolt is expected to retire after the World Championships in August and continued his preparations by winning in a time of 10.06 seconds in Ostrava on Wednesday.

Speaking after the race, Bolt said: "I'm not happy with the time but I'm just getting into my running, I have some training to do, work on my execution but I'll be fine.

"I'm going to get checked out by my doctor, my coach will give me some training to do and I should be fine, so I've got no worries."

Bolt's warning to rivals

The eight-time Olympic champion reminded his rivals that he remains the fastest man in the world, despite an underwhelming 10.03 seconds over 100 metres on home soil this month.

In the meantime Andre De Grasse - who took third in the 100m in Rio and silver in the 200m - clocked a wind-assisted 9.69secs in Stockholm to underline his growing threat to Bolt's supremacy, and long-time rival Justin Gatlin won the US trials last week.

Bolt wins on Jamaican farewell

The event was dubbed 'Salute to a Legend' as eight-time Olympic gold medallist and world-record holder Bolt bade farewell to his compatriots on the track.

Naturally, Bolt won - and in typical style too, bursting clear in the race's final phase - crossing the line in 10.03 seconds, as fireworks greeted the sprinters at the finish.

The 30-year-old will retire after this year's World Championships, looking to swell his collection of 11 gold medals.

Usain Bolt: 'No hard feelings' after losing Olympic gold

Carter, 31, has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision to strip him and the Jamaican team of their 2008 Olympic 4x100 meters relay gold and is awaiting a hearing.

But, as it stands, Bolt can no longer claim to have completed the "triple triple" of nine successive Olympic sprint titles.

Bolt, who once said returning one of his gold medals would be "heartbreaking," is philosophical about the matter -- though he says he is yet to speak with Carter.

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Bolt proud of 'greatest' tag

The Jamaican completed the triple-triple at Rio 2016, taking his tally of Olympic gold medals to nine.

Along with his Games success, he is an 11-time world champion and world-record holder in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m.

Asked if he was now the greatest, Bolt replied: "Yes, I definitely think so. I've really put my all into it.

"I really worked hard to accomplish the greatness that I have done so I am really proud of myself and accomplishments that I have done so I am really happy about it."

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Bolt: I want to be like Ali, Pele

The Jamaican sprint superstar has won gold in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m in each of the past three Olympics, firmly cementing his status as one of the greatest athletes in history.

Now 30 years old, Bolt is planning to step away from the sport following the World Championships in London in 2017 and his new film, 'I Am Bolt', is due to be released later this month - a behind-the-scenes documentary looking at his preparations for Rio 2016.

Rio 2016: Quotes of the Games

Following two weeks of thrilling sports action, we take a look at some of the more memorable quotes from Rio 2016.

 

Words to inspire