Share

James welcomes Bolt duel

Barcelona - Kirani James, Grenada's world and Olympic 400 metres champion, on Friday said that he would welcome the chance to pit himself against Usain Bolt should the Jamaican opt to step up to the one lap sprint.

If Bolt were to decide to compete at 400m, it would bring "renewed interest to the distance", James said during the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) centenary celebration party in Barcelona.

"It seems a natural move on his part (to step up to 400m) and it would attract attention to the distance," James, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student, said.

James said he also intended to run more often over 200m to improve his basic sprint speed but harboured no illusions about challenging the supremacy of Bolt or fellow-Jamaican Yohan Blake.

He said, though, that he was in no hurry to wrest the 400 world record of 43.18sec from American Michael Johnson, who has been the fastest man in the world over the distance since 1999.

"It's not something I really think about," he admitted. "My goal in every big race is always to run faster. That way, I am building up to it little by little."

James' own personal best is the 43.94 he ran at the London Olympics this year.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE