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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 15, 2009

Track: Usain Bolt says he�s examined his life after crash


By ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

MANCHESTER, England � Usain Bolt says a recent car crash has forced him to reassess his life.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist crashed his car into a ditch along a highway in Jamaica last month. He had minor surgery on his left foot after stepping on thorns while getting out of the car.
�After something like that you look at life through and over, and look at what has gone wrong � where you should improve or should be careful,� Bolt said Friday.
Bolt returns to competition Sunday in a 150-meter street race in Manchester.
The accident has been linked to criticism of Bolt�s lifestyle since he set world records in the 100, 200 and 400-meter relay at the Beijing Olympics.
The 22-year-old Bolt acknowledged that the crash caused him to analyze his lifestyle.
�I was just frightened. I was not thinking about my career and then, when it calmed down, I started thinking about what could have happened and everything else,� he said.
Despite his coach urging him to pullout of the Manchester event, Bolt plans to break Donovan Bailey�s 12-year-old mark of 14.99 seconds in the rarely run 150.
�I ran 14 something, but I have run it only in training. I don�t go worrying about times. That is when you start running slower,� Bolt said. �It is a competition for me because I take everything seriously. You cannot compare it with breaking the world records, but I told my coach that I really wanted to come here.�
He also came to see his favorite soccer team, Manchester United. He will be at Old Trafford on Saturday for United�s match against Arsenal.
Bolt advised speedy winger Cristiano Ronaldo how to adjust the running technique that torments defenses but often has him tumbling to the ground.
�I want to run on the pitch and score in the net if they let me,� Bolt said. �It will be something for me to have pictures of.�
While the foot operation has put his preparations behind schedule, Bolt feels he can peak at the Berlin world championships in August.
�I�m getting there. I�m a little bit off, but I think I will get there by Berlin,� Bolt said. �I�m focusing on just one thing and that�s getting to a world championship and doing as good as possible ... if I want to be a legend, I have to keep working at it. That�s what keeps me going.�