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Bolt unsure for 6th JII Meet
BY Kayon Raynor, Senior Observer staff Reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, April 30, 2009
IT is unclear whether triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt will compete at Saturday's sixth Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston after sustaining minor injuries in a car accident on the Vineyard Toll section of Highway 2000 in St Catherine yesterday.
Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt being comforted by an aunt at the Spanish Town Hospital after sustaining minor injuries in a motor vehicle crash on Highway 2000 yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
The 2008 IAAF Sportsman of the year, who wrote off his $15.3 million 2009 BMW M3 Coupe, declared himself in "good" health after the accident, but his handlers are understandably noncommittal as to whether he will compete in the IAAF Area Permit Meet this weekend.
Quizzed as to how long Bolt is expected to be out of action, if at all, his manager Norman Peart replied:
"We can't say right now. We'll do further checks which we have organised already, so we'll have to wait on those," Peart told the Observer.
"As it is right now he's going home because initial examinations (by doctors) indicate that he's okay, but we'll do further checks," he emphasised.
Asked directly when leaving the Spanish Town Hospital yesterday if he would be competing on Saturday, Bolt replied: "Me don't know, you have to talk to my coach about that."
When contacted yesterday evening, coach Glen Mills said it was "too early" to say if the lanky sprinter be allowed to compete on Saturday. He said he had spoken with Bolt, who said he was "okay", but had not seen him in person.
"The public will know whether he will compete prior to the meet," Mills assured.
The world 100m and 200m record holder who sustained minor injuries to the ball of his feet caused by thorns when leaving the crashed car, was released from hospital after some three hours of examination by doctors.
"My good man. Me all right, a just few cuts man, me all right," Bolt assured the Observer prior to boarding his 2003 Honda Euro R motor car shortly after 5:00 pm yesterday afternoon. Both of the 22-year-old sprinter's feet were strapped with bandages.
The 2008 IAAF Sportsman of the year was travelling into Kingston from the direction of May Pen with two female friends shortly after 1:00 pm when the accident occurred approximately 500 metres from the toll plaza. The road was slippery from afternoon showers.
If Bolt is unable to compete on Saturday, it could mean that the meet could be without the country's two most accomplished athletes as two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown is recovering from a toe injury and is also doubtful.
BY Kayon Raynor, Senior Observer staff Reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, April 30, 2009
IT is unclear whether triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt will compete at Saturday's sixth Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston after sustaining minor injuries in a car accident on the Vineyard Toll section of Highway 2000 in St Catherine yesterday.
Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt being comforted by an aunt at the Spanish Town Hospital after sustaining minor injuries in a motor vehicle crash on Highway 2000 yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)The 2008 IAAF Sportsman of the year, who wrote off his $15.3 million 2009 BMW M3 Coupe, declared himself in "good" health after the accident, but his handlers are understandably noncommittal as to whether he will compete in the IAAF Area Permit Meet this weekend.
Quizzed as to how long Bolt is expected to be out of action, if at all, his manager Norman Peart replied:
"We can't say right now. We'll do further checks which we have organised already, so we'll have to wait on those," Peart told the Observer.
"As it is right now he's going home because initial examinations (by doctors) indicate that he's okay, but we'll do further checks," he emphasised.
Asked directly when leaving the Spanish Town Hospital yesterday if he would be competing on Saturday, Bolt replied: "Me don't know, you have to talk to my coach about that."
When contacted yesterday evening, coach Glen Mills said it was "too early" to say if the lanky sprinter be allowed to compete on Saturday. He said he had spoken with Bolt, who said he was "okay", but had not seen him in person.
"The public will know whether he will compete prior to the meet," Mills assured.
The world 100m and 200m record holder who sustained minor injuries to the ball of his feet caused by thorns when leaving the crashed car, was released from hospital after some three hours of examination by doctors.
"My good man. Me all right, a just few cuts man, me all right," Bolt assured the Observer prior to boarding his 2003 Honda Euro R motor car shortly after 5:00 pm yesterday afternoon. Both of the 22-year-old sprinter's feet were strapped with bandages.
The 2008 IAAF Sportsman of the year was travelling into Kingston from the direction of May Pen with two female friends shortly after 1:00 pm when the accident occurred approximately 500 metres from the toll plaza. The road was slippery from afternoon showers.
If Bolt is unable to compete on Saturday, it could mean that the meet could be without the country's two most accomplished athletes as two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown is recovering from a toe injury and is also doubtful.
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