ZURICH, Switzerland – Three-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt wants to get back to his day job – running fast.
The world's fastest man will step back on the track Friday for the first time since his world-record performances at the Beijing Olympics.
“Track and field is my job. This is what I do, I work,” Bolt said Wednesday ahead of the Weltklasse meet. “Right now I'm just trying to get my blood pumping pretty much. I've been doing a little bit of training.”
Bolt broke world records in the 100 meters (9.69 seconds), 200 meters (19.30) and 400-meter relay (37.10).
He'll run the 100 in Zurich, the first of three European meets before he returns home for an inevitable hearty welcome in Jamaica.
“I know the celebrations will wait until I get home, so I'm not worried,” said the 22-year-old Bolt, who was serenaded with “Happy Birthday” by a crowd of 91,000 in the Bird's Nest stadium last week.
The Weltklasse meet could be lucrative if Bolt can lower his time in the 100. Organizers are offering $50,000 and a gold bar worth $27,000 for a new world record.
Bolt will earn $16,000 if he wins the race, totaling a potential haul of $93,000.
“I don't know what time I will run,” Bolt said. “I am just trying to come here and let the fans enjoy my performance. Because they come here to see a performance.”
Before a sellout crowd of 26,000, Bolt is scheduled for a rematch Friday with Olympic runner-up Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago and Walter Dix of the United States, who won the bronze.
Away from the track, the 6-foot-5 Bolt said he's been catching up on sleep since arriving in Switzerland on Monday. Coach Glenn Mills said Bolt has been in demand to attend functions for sponsors, the media and the Jamaican government.
“He hasn't really had time to get rest and training,” Mills said. “But he is still pretty much in good shape, and he will put on a good show on Friday.”
The new superstar of track and field has been hailed by commentators as the man to restore the sport's credibility and popularity after two decades of doping scandals.
Bolt said he's ready to accept some of the responsibility of regaining the trust of fans.
“I am just trying to help (the sport),” he said. “I can't do it on my own, personally, but the other guys definitely are stepping up. I think track and field is getting better.”
Bolt denied that his trademark celebrations during the Olympics were disrespectful to his opponents. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge had said Bolt should have downplayed his gestures and shook hands with the other athletes.
“I never disrespect any other athletes,” he said. “I saw that I was going to win and I celebrated because I worked hard all year and I got what I wanted.”
Mills defended Bolt and said he believed the accusations originated from American television stations.
“They are the ones who started it,” he said. “I think that Usain's dominance in the 100 meters brings a lot of jealousy because normally you have one country that usually dominates this event.”
On Tuesday, Bolt will take aim at his 200 mark at the Athletissima Grand Prix meet in Lausanne. He'll run the 100 at the final Golden League meet on Sept. 5 in Brussels, Belgium.
“I haven't set any goals for the rest of the season,” he said. “Just try to get through the season injury-free and go home and enjoy myself.”
