(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Justin Gatlin made an explosive return to the top of the 100m during the 2014 season. The 33-year-old US sprinter won 18 races in 18 starts, including three in 200m, but there is still unfinished business he aims to take care of this year.
Gatlin is well aware he will be judged by how he comes up against Usain Bolt, the fastest man to run 100 and 200 metres. Bolt never lined up in the lane next to Gatlin last summer as the Jamaican world-record holder took time off to heal nagging injuries since there were no major meets.
However, the wait will come to an end this year. Gatlin will measure up against Bolt at the World Championship this August in Beijing, but the 2004 Olympic champion is game for a face-off even before the marquee event, suggesting Paris as the venue.
"That would be a great race to have. I'm definitely up for the challenge, up for the shot," Gatlin said. "It could be like the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight, only way more exciting and unfortunately less money," said Gatlin, who will open his 2015 campaign at the Doha Diamond League tomorrow.
When asked if Bolt was the reason the meeting probably wouldn't happen until the worlds. "I wouldn't say (it's) because of him. Don't quote me on that," Gatlin said with a smile.
"I don't see why we can't meet each other before world championships. That would be very exciting for the sport. I am all for it. It will be great to run a 200 in Paris. I am ready, I am fit. I am excited for the world championship and I hope to go strong," Gatlin added.
Gatlin has the performances from last year to talk big. The 33-year-old former Olympic champion won all 18 of his individual races in 2014, 15 in the 100 and three over 200. He also set world-best times of 9.77 seconds in the 100 and 19.68 in the 200. He is also not intimidated by Bolt, as it was Gatlin who handed the Jamaican a rare loss at a meet in Rome two years ago, when he out-leaned Bolt at the finish.
"I am ready for this season. I feel like last year was a blueprint for me to go and get ready for this season. I want to kind of focus this year and target certain races. Last year, I just wanted to go out and compete in every races as possible, this year I want to run fewer races and run as fast as possible. I just want to kind of prep myself for the World Championship and hopefully keep the winning streak going," Gatlin said.
The America, however, paid credit to Bolt for raising the bar. Bolt holds the World Record in 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.19) and Gatlin said he is gunning to rewrite those marks.
"The bar has been set high when it comes to running fast. I just don't want to win but want to win by dominating races, with fast times. I don't think the world record is out of reach. We have said it was difficult before, but when a person has opened the door, we have seen each one of us go out and go past it.
"Usain has opened that door for us, and he has taken it to another level. Now it's the responsibility of other athletes to step up, train harder and figure out how to get to those levels. It made me excited when someone achieved it and I could not fathom it. But it made me think and I realised if I train harder, then these goals can be achieved," he noted.
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