KINGSTON, Dec 11: Olympic double sprint champion Usain Bolt expects fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay to mount major challenges in 2009 but vows he is ready to keep either from taking charge.

Gay, the 2007 double world sprint champion at Osaka, and Powell, the former 100m world-record holder, flopped at the Beijing Olympics while Bolt set world records to win gold in the 100 in 9.69 seconds and the 200 in 19.30 seconds.

“Athletes will be gunning for me, especially Asafa and Tyson Gay, who is going to come back after injury,” Bolt said. “It’s going to be hard to stay on top.

“I am looking forward to the challenges. It’s going to be an exciting year for me because I like the challenges. Sometimes it’s more fun, especially for the people who will be enjoying it.”

Bolt, who also ran the third leg of Jamaica’s world record 4x100m relay at Beijing last August, called Gay a great athlete and said he hopes the American returns from injury to show top form in 2009.—AFP