Bolt tells Rogge, ‘I just want to have fun’

Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt replied to criticism directed at him by IOC President Jacques Rogge on Friday by saying that he was not disrespectful to his rivals, he was just out to have fun and entertain.

The 22-year-old Jamaican - who had just added a third Olympic title in Beijing and a third world record in the 4x100 metres relay - said that he wasn’t just someone who turned up to race but also to entertain the crowd.

Rogge, himself a three-time Olympic yachtsman, had told AFP on Thursday that while Bolt was obviously an extraordinary talent he still had things to learn.

"He is a young man but he should show more respect for his rivals. That would be more in the spirit of the Olympic ideal.

"He should shake hands with them after the finish line. However, he is only 21 and he will learn," said Rogge, in what was seen as a break from tradition by an IOC president to criticise an athlete so openly and a champion at that.

However, Bolt implied that Rogge - who by contrast had labelled American swimmer Michael Phelps as an ‘icon’ - hadn’t really understood what he was trying to do.

"I am a performer, I go out to let the people enjoy themselves," said Bolt, who had already produced record-breaking performances in winning the 100m and 200m titles.

"It’s good to enjoy yourselves. This is my work, this is my job. There is no point in doing your work if you don’t enjoy it."

And if Rogge hoped his advice would be taken, he was to be disappointed.

"That’s just me, I won’t change," said Bolt, who entertains the spectators even before he races, imitating with his hands a ‘lightening bolt.’

"I will always be myself because that is my personality."

Bolt, who had also been criticised by Rogge for the disrespectful manner in which he eased up in the 100m and spread his hands according to the 65-year-old Belgian’s interpretation of ‘catch me if you can,’ said that the crowd deserved some extra entertainment.

"That is just me, I am just having fun.

"The crowd loves it, they look forward to seeing me come out, they want me to do it, they want me to put on a show, so I give them what I want.

"I like to make people happy, because they have paid good money to see a performance. They want to see a personality so I give them a show."

Bolt, has revealed that he subsists on an unusual diet of yams and chicken nuggets prior to racing.

"I don’t think I will be doing the 4x400m relay. I am just happy with my three gold medals," said Bolt. He did not run that race.

And looking ahead to London in 2012, Bolt also pretty much ruled out taking up the long jump, which was the fourth title Lewis won in 1984. Carl Lewis is the American sprinter who won four gold medals in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

"Long jump? I am not even thinking about that right now."

AT RIGHT: The record-breaking Jamaican 4x100 relay team — (from left) Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, Usain Bolt and Michael Frater — celebrate winning the men's 4×100m relay final at the "Bird's Nest" National 
Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. They broke the world record in the Olympic final timing 37.10 seconds.