London: Six-times Olympic champion Usain Bolt will return to London’s Olympic Park to take part in next year’s London Anniversary Games, organisers British Athletics confirmed yesterday.
World’s fastest man, Bolt, will compete in London’s world-class Diamond League event on July 22-23, making it his final appearance before the Rio Olympics, the lanky Jamaican said in a statement. “I know the fans in London are very knowledgeable and passionate and will come out in force and create a great atmosphere. There are a lot of Jamaicans living in the UK and I always get great support - it is like my home away from home,” said Bolt.
“I first competed in the London Grand Prix in 2005 when the event was in Crystal Palace and this will be my ninth time to compete in a city I know very well.”
Bolt retained the 100-metre, 200m and 4x100m titles in London having won the events at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. On his return to Beijing in 2015, he also defended the same trio of events in the World Championships. The Olympic Games in Rio take place August 5-21, 2016.